Anxiety decisions — 2013

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The evidence submitted since the last denial relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claim and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder, which preexisted service, was aggravated by his military service and is therefore service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including depression and anxiety disorder, began during service and continues to this day. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety and panic disorders has been manifested by total occupational and social impairment from the date of the grant of service connection of August 8, 2007. The Board finds that a 100 percent rating is warranted for this disability throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and pain disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if any of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to service. As such, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, finding that his symptoms did not meet the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD at any time during the appeal period. The Board also found that there was no evidence of a verified in-service stressor leading to PTSD, and concluded that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder is not related to active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran is also asked to provide authorization for any pertinent medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for the review of additional evidence, including Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricability with his service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and review his claims for service connection for depression, PTSD, and anxiety disorder. The RO will also determine if new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the previously-denied claim for PTSD.

The Veteran's additional anxiety, depression, headache, and tinnitus disabilities are not service-connected under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to VA fault.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including examinations and addressing issues of increased rating for GAD and a TDIU. The Veteran's otitis externa was not evaluated in almost 9 years and needs to be evaluated again.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depression, are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety neurosis with PTSD, rated at 70 percent disabling since October 16, 2002, has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, requires additional development and remand. The claims file will be reviewed, including verification of in-service stressors.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining the Veteran's personnel records and verifying his claimed stressors. The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for essential tremor of the left hand and anxiety reaction were denied, as there was no evidence to support higher ratings based on current clinical findings. The claim for TDIU was also denied due to the Veteran's ability to maintain employment despite his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA psychiatric examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected anxiety disorder. The issue will be readjudicated after these actions.