Anxiety decisions — 2014

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, concluding that his symptoms are related to substance abuse during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depression, did not have their onset during active service or are otherwise related to service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hypertension is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for hypertension.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders are not related to his military service and denies his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety and depressive disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board found that his symptoms were mild or transient, affecting work efficiency only during periods of significant stress.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and found that the appellant's anxiety disorder is related to her in-service assault. The claim for acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD was not addressed as it encompasses both PTSD and anxiety.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities did not have their onset in service and are not otherwise related to his active duty service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

Your claim for service connection for depression and anxiety is dismissed because you are already receiving benefits for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine the current level of severity of his service-connected anxiety disorder NOS and adjudication of his TDIU claim. Additional relevant medical records must also be obtained.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, low back disability and PTSD prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than December 20, 2004 for service connection of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. The decision was based on the fact that the Veteran's entitlement to this condition arose on or after December 20, 2004.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. No service connection decisions were made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have currently diagnosed hip, pes planus, low back strain, neck disorder, or eye disorders. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his anxiety disorder, claimed as PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for clarification of medical records and a new examination.

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

The Board is reopening the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, but remanding it along with the other remaining claim due to further development and consideration. The Veteran's stressor in service may have involved drowning deaths of two friends while serving aboard the U.S.S. Chicago.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed and the case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a psychiatric examination to assess the impact of the Veteran's service-connected conditions on his employability.

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection due to incomplete evidence and need for further examination.,The Veteran's hearing loss claim will be remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding noise exposure during service.,The Veteran's psychiatric disorder claim will be remanded as his in-service combat experience needs clarification.