Anxiety decisions — 2012

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for left elbow internal derangement and depression and anxiety, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private psychiatric treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss in the left ear and perforation of the left eardrum were denied. Service connection was granted for anxiety disorder with a rating of 50%, and postoperative tympanoplasty of the right ear with a rating of 10%. The maximum benefit has been granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder is as likely as not attributable to traumatic events during his military service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's depression and anxiety were granted a higher initial rating of 70 percent effective March 25, 2010. An earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA eligibility was also granted as of November 14, 2008.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent for the period from February 27, 2006 through September 27, 2009. The Veteran is satisfied with this rating and does not seek a higher evaluation.

The Board finds that the Veteran's neck disability is not shown by the most probative evidence of record to be etiologically related to a disease, injury, or event in service.

The Board found that the appellant's discharge from military service was due to willful and persistent misconduct, specifically unauthorized absences, and thus constitutes a bar to VA compensation and pension benefits.

The Veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected anxiety reaction, which was previously granted at a 10 percent evaluation. The case has been remanded due to insufficient VA examination and the need for an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be related to his service-connected PTSD, and the claim for this condition is granted. The anxiety disorder other than PTSD is not considered a separate condition due to its association with PTSD.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an earlier effective date, finding that the Veteran had not submitted a formal or informal claim for increased compensation prior to his death. The RO awarded a 100% rating on June 29, 1992, and this decision was based on evidence in the file at the time of the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and requests for a VA mental examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to his active service, and therefore, entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Veteran's anxiety and depression have resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to be aggravated by her service-connected anxiety disorder, and thus service connection for this condition is granted. The issue of an increased initial evaluation for her anxiety disorder has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, effective November 2, 2007. His hepatitis has not been shown to be symptomatic and thus does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, including chronic adjustment disorder with mixed emotional features and depression, is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding his claimed stressors.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected anxiety disorder was denied. The VA examiner found the symptoms did not cause total social and occupational impairment, but reduced reliability and productivity due to psychiatric symptoms.