Anxiety decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims for service connection for brain hemorrhage and anxiety disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and providing an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of anxiety disorder, NOS with PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his VA treatment records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for PTSD. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim of an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, but denied service connection on the merits.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of serious, but not total, impairment in occupational and social functioning throughout the appeal period. The current level of severity warrants a rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new VA examination.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for depression and anxiety as secondary to service-connected disability, finding that new evidence supports this claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining recent VA treatment records and adjudicating newly raised claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, is related to his military service. However, there is no evidence of a current bilateral hernia disability or any residuals from past surgeries.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that he does not have a diagnosis of PTSD and his current psychiatric disorders are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and the evidence is at least in equipoise that he is unemployable due to his lumbar spine disability. Therefore, entitlement to a TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been denied. The issue of whether the severance of service connection for generalized anxiety disorder (claimed as PTSD) was proper is currently unresolved, and his claim for an initial compensable rating for generalized anxiety disorder from April 29, 2009 to August 1, 2012 remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current major depression and generalized anxiety disorder are attributable to service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to reconsider the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for depression, anxiety, and a bilateral knee disorder. The new evidence submitted since the previous denial includes relevant official service department records not previously considered. As such, these claims are reopened. However, no new evidence was found that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder or tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient consideration of certain medical evaluations and a need for a new VA examination. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being evaluated again.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability. Claims for increased evaluations and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder are not shown to meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent, resulting in a denial of his increased rating claim.

The Veteran's PTSD with mood disorder and anxiety symptoms is rated at 70 percent, the highest schedular rating available. The Board also granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, skin condition, and right knee disorder are also being remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, was caused by service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the Veteran's diagnoses of PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression. The claim will be adjudicated again after the necessary examinations are conducted.