Anxiety decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a social and industrial survey to determine if his service-connected disabilities alone preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The anxiety disorder was rated at 50% since September 10, 2010, and the residuals of resection of the distal clavicle of the right (major) shoulder, patellofemoral syndrome of both knees, and forehead scar as a residual of a head injury were all rated at 10%. The Veteran was not granted any additional ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between his hypertension and service-connected conditions, as well as an assessment of whether his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), a left ankle disability, hearing loss, Meniere's syndrome, and a spine disability. The appeals are based on new evidence submitted after previous denials.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected anxiety neurosis, and addressing whether he meets the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to active military service. The claim for alcohol dependence secondary to a service-connected disability remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service in Vietnam, and therefore grants service connection for PTSD. The other diagnosed psychiatric disorders are rated under the same General Rating Formula as PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the Board finds that his PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating or TDIU, and there are no service-connected conditions related to exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War Syndrome, or the PACT Act.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred for treatment of GERD, a nonservice-connected condition associated with and aggravating her service-connected major depression with anxiety disorder, are authorized as the nearest VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are service-connected due to a confirmed in-service stressor and competent medical evidence linking it to his current symptoms.

The Board denied reopening of the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding no new and material evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, was denied. However, the Board found that he has a current diagnosis of depressive disorder and anxiety disorder with PTSD features, which is etiologically related to his in-service stressors.,Service connection was granted for MGUS as it is considered a progression of the Veteran's asymptomatic condition. The Board determined that there is no evidence linking the MGUS to exposure to asbestos or other chemicals during service.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety, depression, and PTSD, which was incurred as a result of active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's vertigo and psychiatric disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor proximately due to a service-connected disability. Therefore, these claims are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for major depression and generalized anxiety disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records prior to August 2006 and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for PTSD will also be expanded to include other psychiatric disorders such as anxiety disorder and depressive disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder, psychiatric disorders (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety), right knee disorder, left knee disorder, GERD with Barrett's esophagus, and hemorrhoids. The appeals are dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not proximately caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or error in judgment. The cause of death is considered to be suicide.

The Board found that an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD with depression and alcoholism, was not incurred in or aggravated by military service. The Veteran's sinusitis has not been shown on X-ray evidence to meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.