Anxiety decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD, is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or after service, and the current diagnoses are not related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of August 7, 2007, for the grant of Individual Unemployability (IU) secondary to PTSD with chronic anxiety is granted. The criteria were met as his service-connected disability alone was sufficient to produce unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD as secondary to service-connected conditions, has been reopened. The evidence now includes new and material information that suggests the Veteran may have developed these conditions during or related to his military service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding all issues on appeal, including those related to service connection for various conditions and exposure claims.

The Board denied increased ratings for right and left foot plantar fasciitis, finding that the Veteran's disability did not meet or approximate criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was granted, but no specific effective date was assigned as it is related to reopening his claim on new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and requesting a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, arranging a new examination, and clarifying representation status.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder was incurred during wartime service and granted service connection for this condition. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a right foot disorder other than hammertoes and corns, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left ulnar neuropathy are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected anxiety disorder and recurrent right wrist wart, as well as their impact on employment and daily activities. The RO/AMC will also obtain any outstanding treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current tinnitus or dementia with major depression and anxiety related to service. The claim for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as anxiety disorder not otherwise specified with PTSD traits and alcohol/cocaine abuse in remission, is not due to or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for the service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, effective January 4, 2011, based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen claims for service connection for coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction, right bundle branch block, hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, and a psychiatric disability (PTSD and anxiety).

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety disorder, depression, and dementia. The Veteran's anxiety disorder is related to his period of active service, and his depression and dementia are caused by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the threshold eligibility requirements for nonservice-connected pension benefits due to a lack of qualifying wartime service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's alleged in-service stressor and to provide him with an examination regarding his non-PTSD acquired psychiatric disorders. The appeal is currently on hold.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and related phobias, were incurred during his military service. The claim for depressive disorder is denied as there is no evidence of pre-service onset or service connection. The claim for PTSD is also denied due to lack of in-service occurrence and no current diagnosis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for all psychiatric disorders other than PTSD is being remanded due to the need for clarification of the VA examiner's opinion and further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD and GAD were not service-connected prior to August 15, 2009. The effective date for service connection was set at August 15, 2009.