Anxiety decisions — 2012

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with anxiety and depression, finding that the Veteran's behavioral changes during service provide credible supporting evidence of his claimed in-service stressors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and anxiety disorder are related to his service in Afghanistan, and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further development and examination. The issue includes verification of claimed stressors during his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed PTSD and bipolar disorder are not related to her active service, as there is no credible evidence of an in-service personal assault. The diagnoses have changed over time, with different VA examiners listing different primary conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to reassess the severity of his PTSD with anxiety and depression, as well as an opinion regarding the effect this disability has on his employability. Additionally, any outstanding VA treatment records should be obtained.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and adjudicative action due to an inadequate November 2009 VA psychiatric evaluation. The Veteran is also required to provide updated medical records from May 2007, and a new VA examination will be scheduled.

The Veteran's anxiety reaction is currently rated at 50 percent, effective October 29, 2008. The symptoms include social and occupational impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has determined that a new examination and opinion are necessary to clarify the nature of the veteran's psychiatric condition, including whether it is related to her in-service stressor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's mood disorder, NOS (including anxiety and depression), is related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The nerve damage of the right lower extremity was rated at 10 percent from April 15, 2008 to June 18, 2009, and in excess of 40 percent from June 19, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of evidence related to personal assault stressors.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is manifested by anxiety, difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, panic attacks, sleep disturbances, suicidal ideation and at least two suicide attempts, neglect of personal hygiene, and difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances causing deficiencies in most of the areas including work, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. With resolution of reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor, a rating of 70 percent for major depressive disorder has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including panic and anxiety disorders, was not incurred or aggravated during her active military service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service onset or continuity of symptoms.

The Board has granted a higher initial rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder, finding that his symptoms meet the criteria for this rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and obtaining relevant VA treatment records. The TDIU claim will also be addressed during this process.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining clarification from the Veteran about his claimed in-service stressors and providing a VA examination. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, remains on appeal.

The Veteran's failure, without good cause, to report for a VA compensation examination needed to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable has resulted in the denial of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for prostatectomy with residual incontinence was withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has re-characterized the issue on appeal as one for service connection for any psychiatric disability. The RO denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder, but did not address his claims for PTSD and other psychiatric conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to ambiguities and uncertainties relative to the claimed psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety disorder, is pending.