Anxiety decisions — 2013

The Veteran's dysthymia and generalized anxiety disorder have caused significant occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas. The VA has not made a determination on whether service connection is warranted for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, but he does not have a diagnosed psychiatric disability related to his military service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is found to be related to his military service and granted as service connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA mental disorders examination. The case will also be reviewed to determine if the Veteran should have his TDIU claim referred for extraschedular consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including keloid scars, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and MDD), a right shoulder disability, a left shoulder disability, and a cervical spine disability. The evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening the claim regarding keloid scars, and there was insufficient evidence to establish service connection for any of the other conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sacrum strain disability, thoracic strain disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety, depression, adjustment disorder), and seizure disorder. The evidence submitted since the last final denial does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders and TBI.

The Board finds that there is no credible in-service event or stressor to which the Veteran's psychiatric disability can be linked, and thus service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, cannot be granted.

The Board has granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disability including depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, PTSD, and cognitive impairment. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's conditions are caused by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to the submission of new evidence without a waiver, and because the issues are intertwined. The case will be reconsidered after all relevant records have been obtained.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a comprehensive VA psychiatric examination and an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder is at least as likely as not caused by military sexual trauma.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with MDD and GAD has been rated at 50 percent since October 31, 2006. The Board finds that a higher initial rating of 70 percent is warranted for this disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive and anxiety disorders are as likely as not related to his active military service, including a family health emergency during his deployment in the Philippines.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety disorder NOS and assigned a 10 percent rating, the minimum allowed under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychosis NOS, which is an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are deemed to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the need for aid and attendance, which is sufficient to meet the criteria for SMC at the O rate.

The Veteran's mood disorder with psychotic features was incurred in service and is granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining psychiatric records from Fort Bliss and UMC, as well as a VA examination to clarify the Veteran's current diagnoses and their relation to service. The appeal is currently in remand status.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for service-connected anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional treatment records from the Rockford Vet Center.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and updated VA treatment records. A new VA examination will be conducted to determine if any current psychiatric disorders are related to service.