Anxiety decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if any psychiatric disorders clearly and unmistakably pre-existed service and whether they were aggravated by events in active service. The Veteran's chemical dependency is also being considered as secondary to her PTSD.

The Veteran's anxiety reaction has been rated at 70 percent since July 7, 2010. The VA examiner noted that the Veteran works full-time and experiences severe depression and irritability.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety has been rated at 30 percent since March 6, 2007. The Board finds that the symptoms warrant a higher rating of 50 percent.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, and anxiety disorder are etiologically related to her service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records and attempting to corroborate claimed stressors.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and therefore, service connection for any psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination and consideration of all submitted evidence. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new information.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, left shoulder injury, neck injury, right knee injury, and left knee injury were denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, mood disorder, adjustment disorder, personality disorder and bipolar disorder, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and private mental health records. The case will be reviewed after the completion of this development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for borderline personality disorder with histrionic personality disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder with panic attack, bipolar disorder, and major depression. The evidence received since the January 1983 rating decision includes mental health treatment records from Griffiss Air Force Base that provide a link between the Veteran's service and her current diagnoses.

The Veteran's claimed psychiatric and gastrointestinal conditions are not service-connected as they were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues include service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional development, specifically an examination to determine if her current psychiatric disorders are related to military sexual trauma in service.

The Board has ordered a remand to determine if the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric conditions, including PTSD, are related to her service. Additionally, she will be asked to provide evidence that corroborates her claim of receiving letters from J.H. during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain pertinent medical records and to request Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits information. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder with residuals, but the stomach disorder claim is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is service-connected based on evidence showing a diagnosis of PTSD and an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, characterized by depressive disorder with anxiety disorder, does not more closely approximate the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.