Anxiety decisions — 2013

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, has been manifested by complaints of nightmares, mild sleep impairment, irritability and some social isolation. The symptoms are indicative of no greater occupational and social impairment than as due to mild or transient symptoms that decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, are found to be related to his service-connected disabilities. His arteriosclerotic heart disease is rated at 60 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, and any such disabilities are not related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including major depression and anxiety disorder, are not related to service or secondary to his service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain in-service and pre-service mental health treatment records, as well as a VA examination. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, anxiety, and panic attacks is being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the existence of a current psychiatric disability. A new VA examination will be conducted to clarify this issue.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and an opinion on whether his disabilities preclude him from obtaining gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The decision is based on the merits of the claim without relying on any presumption or new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board remanded the case for further development.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depression, were made worse by his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an unspecified psychiatric condition was reopened, and the Board found that there is at least a reasonable possibility of establishing service connection for his current diagnoses of major depressive disorder, PTSD, panic disorder with agoraphobia secondary to PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and alcohol dependence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to schedule her for a VA examination to determine the nature, extent, onset and etiology of any hearing loss found to be present. Additionally, she will be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the identity and etiology of any psychiatric disorder that may be present.

The Veteran's current depressive and anxiety disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by military service, nor are they secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and arthritis may not be presumed to have been so incurred.,There is no competent evidence relating any current psychiatric diagnosis to an incident of service or a service-connected disability. The Board concluded that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, Major Depression, or Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's report of service with a classified mission in Korea can be corroborated and to make specific determinations regarding stressor existence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The issue of entitlement to service connection for PTSD will be reconsidered after this development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a request for an in-person hearing. The issues of service connection for hammertoe deformity and the initial disability rating for anxiety disorder are pending.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities from July 20, 2005 to February 8, 2011.