Anxiety decisions — 2012

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including his adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, is currently rated at 30 percent under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. This rating reflects occupational and social impairment due to occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Board has found that the Veteran's anxiety disorder more closely approximates a 70 percent disability rating, warranting an initial evaluation higher than 50 percent for his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, has been remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims file.

The Board has ordered a remand for the Veteran's neck claim due to inadequate examination and remanding instructions. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his passive aggressive personality disorder claim is also pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and major depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's anxiety and depression were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected hepatitis C.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability and readjudicating the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his pain disorder with dysthymic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA records and SSA disability benefits information. The claims will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD due to a personal assault during service, and also found that the Veteran's other psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Board hearing at the local RO. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and sleeplessness, remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to missing VA treatment records and clarification on the nature of the Veteran's low back disability.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current anxiety disorder is related to his service, specifically his time in the Southwest Asia Theater during the Persian Gulf War. The preponderance of evidence supports this finding.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his vocational rehabilitation records and Social Security Administration records. He also needs an updated VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and schizophrenia. The decision is based on the merits of the claim without invoking any specific presumption or exposure basis.

The Veteran's conversion hysteria with somatization and anxiety, currently rated as PTSD, has been found to be productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as sleep disturbance, occasional suicidal and homicidal ideation, auditory hallucinations, restricted and anxious affect, mumbled speech, hypervigilance, and irritability without evidence of total occupational and social impairment. For the period prior to November 15, 2011.

Prior to February 1, 2003, the Veteran's psychiatric disorder was rated at 30 percent due to symptoms such as depressed mood and mild insomnia.,From February 1, 2003 to June 30, 2003, the rating increased to 50 percent due to moderate symptoms including flattened affect and difficulty in social functioning.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the relationship between the Veteran's current vertigo and his service-connected hearing loss or anxiety. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board finds that the appellant has failed to present evidence showing that VA's care or treatment caused or contributed significantly to the Veteran's death. The medical records indicate multiple health issues, including COPD and coronary artery disease, which were treated by VA prior to his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining records from SSA and VA medical centers.