Anxiety decisions — 2012

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, results in total social and occupational impairment warranting a rating of 100 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and readjudication.

The Veteran's combined rating is now at 70%, which includes a 50% increase for his service-connected mood disorder with anxiety. The TDIU claim will be remanded due to missing rating decisions after June 2009.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his military service, including fear of hostile military activity while serving in Vietnam.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating of 70 percent is warranted. Additionally, the Veteran meets criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, identifying inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations, and providing a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected anxiety disorder and whether it aggravates his nonservice-connected schizoaffective disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has resulted in total occupational impairment and near-total social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the right hand, anemia, pharyngitis, and anxiety due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, and for hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, require additional development due to the need for medical opinions regarding the adequacy of reported stressors and the etiology of the conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including psychotic, anxiety, or mood disorders, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim should be remanded for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if he has PTSD related to his fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a complete copy of the October 2010 audiometric examination and scheduling an examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has granted a higher evaluation to 70 percent effective February 12, 2007.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a pre-existing head injury that existed prior to service and was not aggravated during service. The claim of reopening a psychiatric disorder was also denied as no new evidence related to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder with posttraumatic stress disorder does not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate due to his non-service connected physical disabilities.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to clarify the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorder, including whether it is related to service, particularly given conflicting evidence in the record.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, a respiratory disorder, and chronic headaches have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions that are related to service or any in-service stressors. The Board finds the evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected depression and anxiety are rated at 70 percent, reflecting total occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as suicidal ideation, near-continuous panic or depression affecting ability to function independently, and impaired impulse control.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim should be remanded for further development, including obtaining VA clinical records and a psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed acquired psychiatric disorder.