Anxiety decisions — 2013

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA and non-VA treatment records, as well as scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorders. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder with anxiety features and agoraphobia. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions had their onset during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with depression and anxiety, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his in-service stressors. Service connection is also granted for hypertension as secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, is currently rated at 30 percent. The appeal for a higher rating has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain a supplemental opinion from the VA examiner regarding the Veteran's anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder, including their relationship to service. The claim will be readjudicated after this development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or other psychiatric disorders, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to service. For bilateral hearing loss, while the Veteran reports symptoms related to military service, the VA examinations did not find any current disability meeting VA's definition for hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to November 30, 2010 and denied his claim for increased rating thereafter.

The Board found no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disorder during active military service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has been rated at 10 percent prior to December 19, 2012 and at 30 percent thereafter. The Veteran is also entitled to a separate rating for his chondromalacia of the left patella.

The Veteran's initial rating for hypoactive sexual desire disorder has been granted at a 30 percent level from March 22, 2001 until December 12, 2010. The claim is now pending for an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if any current mental health disability, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, was incurred in or aggravated by military service. The Veteran's credibility concerns and additional evidence submitted are to be considered.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent since June 26, 2010, due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case as there are no remaining issues to review.

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

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including clarification of physical limitations causing anxiety and their relation to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is found to be proximately due to his service-connected depressive disorder with anxiety, and he is granted service connection for this condition.