Anxiety decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to clarify the nature of his psychiatric disability and determine its relationship to service.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disability found to be present, including obsessive compulsive disorder. The case will be returned for further review after this additional development.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting any of her requested increases or establishing service connection for a cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, NOS, is rated at 70 percent since October 22, 2007. The headaches issue remains pending and unresolved.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional evidence obtained and for a clarification of medical opinion regarding service connection for various psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is found to be related to his service, with more likely than not being at least as likely due to physical limitations and service-related stressors.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and found that new and material evidence has been received. The TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with this issue, so it must be remanded as well.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VCAA notice.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the Veteran's anxiety disorder, effective May 10, 2007. The claim for an earlier effective date is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is pending for service connection of various conditions, including PTSD and TDIU. The claims for left ankle sprain, low back disorder, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder are not currently addressed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals.

The Veteran's vertigo is found to be service-connected. However, the initial increased rating for major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder from May 8, 2007 to June 24, 2008 is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding medical records and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include a traumatic brain injury is being remanded due to the need for additional development including medical examinations and consideration of his claims.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for an increased initial rating for bipolar disorder with adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood.

The Veteran's service-connected hepatitis disability is found to be the cause of his current bladder, prostate, pancreas, skin and stomach disorders.

The Veteran is seeking initial compensable ratings for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood (claimed as depression), left ear hearing loss, and service connection for right ear hearing loss. He also seeks service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine as secondary to a service-connected lumbar strain and cancer of the kidneys as secondary to herbicide exposure.,The Veteran is seeking an initial compensable rating for his left ear hearing loss disability. His right ear hearing loss has worsened since his last examination in September 2010, and he seeks service connection for this condition.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine as secondary to a service-connected lumbar strain and cancer of the kidneys as secondary to herbicide exposure. He also seeks TDIU.,The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, chronic (claimed as depression) has worsened since his last examination in September 2010, and he is seeking an initial compensable rating for this condition.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability may be due to herbicide exposure during service. The examiner should determine if there is at least a 50 percent probability or greater that the Veteran has a right ear hearing loss disability as a result of active service.,The Veteran seeks service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, which he asserts had its onset during service and is related to his service-connected lumbar strain. The examiner should provide an opinion regarding whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease disability is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of October 28, 2006. The TDIU claim is denied as the unemployability is due to nonservice-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder with depressive features is rated at 50 percent effective March 6, 2000. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of his service-connected conditions.