Anxiety decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder and left knee injury with ossification of the medial collateral ligament do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent prior to March 2, 2010 and at 70 percent after that date. The TDIU claim was also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to include obtaining updated VA treatment records, corroborative evidence of alleged stressor events in service, and a psychiatric examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's current psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD and associated conditions was denied as there is no evidence of a prior claim or entitlement to benefits before March 14, 2005.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for anxiety disorder and TDIU are being remanded due to incomplete development of the record, including obtaining VA treatment records from April 2006 to present. The claim for TDIU is also intertwined with his claim for an increased rating for anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining clarification on the Maryland CNC test from a private audiologist and adjudicating his claim for a higher rating for anxiety disorder. His TDIU claim will also be considered.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive episodes and anxiety, is related to her military service. The case will be returned to the RO/AMC for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and clarifying the nature of any service-connected psychiatric conditions.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including providing proper notice and readjudicating the claims to reopen service connection for lung or respiratory disorder and psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, and finds that he has depressive disorder NOS and anxiety disorder NOS which are as likely as not related to his military service. Service connection is therefore granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, bilateral ankle disabilities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been denied. The Board found no credible evidence linking these conditions to his active service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and an adjustment disorder are being remanded due to inconsistencies in diagnoses. The claim for headaches as secondary to his psychiatric disorders is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination. The Veteran's nicotine dependence disorder is being evaluated to determine if it was caused by or worsened by his service-connected disabilities of anxiety disorder, neurodermatitis, and hypertrophic tonsils. A TDIU claim will also be re-evaluated.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and retrieval of SSA records.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder not otherwise specified, depressive disorder not otherwise specified, alcohol dependence sustained full remission, and PTSD are shown to have resulted in deficiencies in most areas such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking and mood; total social and occupational impairment is not demonstrated. The Veteran is currently assigned a 70 percent rating for the entire appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and a need for a VA examination to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was rated at 50 percent prior to September 10, 2007 and increased to 100 percent beginning on September 10, 2007.,A rating of 100 percent has been granted for the period from September 10, 2007 to May 12, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have caused or aggravated his gastrointestinal disorders, including stomach ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, anxiety, and depression was granted. The diagnosis of PTSD is based on an in-service stressor.