Anxiety decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, are related to his active military service. The evidence supports a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive and anxiety disorders are currently rated at 50 percent from March 30, 2006 through May 25, 2011. A 100 percent rating is assigned starting on May 26, 2011.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, asthma, autoimmune disorder, and arthritis. The decision concluded that his current mental health issues are due to his own willful misconduct.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his psychiatric disability was denied. The issues of service connection for a gastrointestinal disability and TDIU were remanded.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating available for this condition. The Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a 70 percent or 100 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability. The examiner should address whether the preexisting condition was clearly and unmistakably not aggravated by service, or if it had onset during or as a result of service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU based on his service-connected low back disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. The issue of service connection for basal cell carcinoma remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed stressors are not supported by credible evidence and therefore, his PTSD is not related to service.

The Veteran's initial claim for higher evaluations for anxiety disorder was denied, with a final rating of 70% effective April 20, 2006.

Service connection is in effect for tinnitus and anxiety, both considered as part of the service-connected brain trauma. The Veteran's hearing loss disability remains rated at 10 percent.

The RO denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 30, 1976, for the grant of service connection for schizophrenic reaction and anxiety reaction. The decision also determined that the schizophrenia was not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for entitlement to increased ratings for coronary artery disease and an acquired psychiatric disability. The Board found that the Veteran's anxiety disorder with depression did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression are currently rated at 70 percent, effective March 1, 2004.

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's depressive disorder is aggravated by her service-connected lupus, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of anxiety disorder, service connection for liver disease (claimed as Gilbert's Syndrome), carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, and migraines were denied. The decision also addressed a claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board finds that the Veteran's psychiatric symptoms, including bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, and panic attacks, did not manifest in service or within one year of discharge. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology post-service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for drug and alcohol dependence, bilateral shoulder disorder, headache disorder, kidney disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, disturbances of motivation and mood), loss of smell, scars of the feet, and right eye disorder as they are not shown to have had their clinical onset during service or to be caused by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and PTSD. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further development of evidence related to the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and a PTSD examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains under consideration.