Anxiety decisions — 2013

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was evaluated as 30 percent disabling from April 27, 2005 to August 26, 2011 and as 70 percent disabling beginning August 27, 2011. The Board denied both claims for increased ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder NOS, personality disorder NOS, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as claimed as a residual of exposure to herbicides. The evidence did not support the conclusion that PTSD met DSM-IV criteria based on in-service stressors or current symptoms.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, as new and material evidence has been received. The case is remanded for a comprehensive VA psychiatric examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not that any current acquired psychiatric disability had its onset in service or was otherwise etiologically related thereto.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of prostate cancer have resulted in daytime voiding interval of three to four times per day, but renal dysfunction and urinary tract infections are not shown. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a higher rating for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired chronic psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD and anxiety, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to address the relationship between his current diagnoses and military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, and his asthma rating remains at 60 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a psychiatric disorder other than posttraumatic stress disorder, and therefore service connection for such condition is denied.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is service connected as secondary to his service-connected hepatitis C. The heart disability claim remains pending.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is found to have been incurred during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including undifferentiated schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, and a mood disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA treatment records and for a new opinion regarding the etiology of his psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for PTSD with anxiety and depression is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural defects and the need for a medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and other mental health conditions, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of her claims file.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death while the appeal was pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder are related to her in-service sexual assault and granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed PTSD and other psychiatric conditions are not related to his military service, as there is no credible evidence of an in-service stressor. The current psychiatric disabilities were determined to be due to non-service-related causes.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD and PTSD, finding that the Veteran did not have any symptoms of a psychiatric disability during active service or since separation. The current diagnoses are not related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and increased evaluations for anxiety disorder were denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of a heart disorder, and the Veteran's anxiety disorder was not shown to be proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected Lyme disease.