Anxiety decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder has caused total occupational and social impairment from November 21, 2003, to November 11, 2009.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and depression have been rated at 50 percent since April 5, 2010. The Board denied a higher rating for the period prior to that date.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with PTSD features, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are all granted. The Veteran is also service-connected for retinopathy.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, primarily manifested by anxiety and panic affecting his ability to function independently, was found not to warrant a rating in excess of the current 70 percent.

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

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors and obtain his complete service treatment records. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a new examination to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD with anxiety disorder. The examiner must consider all theories of service connection, including secondary service connection due to his service-connected right knee and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination. The issues of service connection for anxiety disorder, dysthymic disorder, and tinnitus are pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to conflicting evidence and a need for clarification of the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability was reopened and granted. The reduction in the disability rating for prostate cancer status post X-ray treatment with erectile dysfunction from 100% to 40% was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to an increased rating for depression and anxiety, as well as his claim for TDIU, are pending.

The Veteran's PTSD and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for dysthymic disorder, claimed as anxiety disorder and depression is being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records.

The Board found that the Veteran's TBI residuals did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the prior version of Diagnostic Code 8045, as there was no evidence of specific neurological disabilities related to his TBI. The Veteran's symptoms were attributed to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records, specifically those from a private physician and any other non-VA physicians who have treated his psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted, as the evidence supports a finding that his symptoms are related to service.,Service connection was also granted for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, including obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, and depression. The Board found that the Veteran's in-service stressors were sufficient to cause such symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder is characterized by frequent panic attacks, disturbances in motivation and mood, and social isolation. With resolution of the doubt in his favor, his service-connected anxiety disorder is characterized by these symptoms warranting a 50 percent disability rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and found that new evidence received since the last denial supports this reopening. However, the Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD) and knee disability due to lack of a medical nexus between these conditions and her military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to the need for new VA examinations and retrieval of relevant treatment records.