Anxiety decisions — 2012

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety (claimed as PTSD) is currently rated at 30 percent disabling, reflecting occupational and social impairment due to occasional decrease in work efficiency.

The Board found that the Veteran's current skin disorder and acquired psychiatric disorders are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of his current psychiatric disabilities and whether they are related to service or any other relevant factors.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the appellant's claims for service connection for blackouts and a psychiatric disability, including mood disorder and/or anxiety disorder. The VA will attempt to obtain relevant medical records and schedule examinations as requested.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective July 7, 2005. The Board found that the criteria for an earlier effective date were not met due to lack of evidence showing unemployability prior to this date.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by service-connected conditions, including his in-service asbestos exposure or service-connected disabilities. The cause of death listed on the death certificate was due to lung cancer and other conditions unrelated to service.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or an acquired psychiatric disorder other than Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depression. The Board finds that these conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a psychiatric examination to determine the etiology of his diagnosed psychiatric disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The Veteran's tinnitus is related to exposure to acoustic trauma in service, while his hearing loss does not meet the VA criteria for a disability. His psychiatric symptoms are attributed to alcohol abuse rather than service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, adjustment disorder with missed anxiety, and depressed mood, is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorder in March 2005. The Veteran did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) within one year of the decision, so the denial became final.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD to include generalized anxiety disorder with depression is being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining morning reports and unit history.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a psychiatric disability attributable to his period of service, including PTSD and Anxiety Disorder NOS.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an anxiety disorder and for a higher rating for his right cervicothoracic paraspinal muscle strain, finding that there was no evidence of in-service disease or injury related to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety caused or contributed substantially or materially to his death. The appellant must also be provided with complete notice of the information and evidence needed to substantiate her claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus and PTSD with history of adjustment disorder with anxiety, finding that his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood has been granted, but he is still seeking compensation for sexual dysfunction. His cardiac condition remains in dispute.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring an automobile and adaptive equipment or for adaptive equipment only due to his already service-connected conditions.