Anxiety decisions — 2014

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are not related to his military service or service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The hearing loss claim remains pending as further development is needed. The psychiatric disorder claim also remains pending due to insufficient evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's income and net worth for the relevant appeal period from April 2009. The Veteran is required to submit Improved Pension Eligibility Verification Reports and supporting documentation.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant's authorized representative before a decision could be made.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining Reserves service treatment records and a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board found no current psychiatric disability related to the Veteran's in-service diagnosis of 'schizoid personality,' his in-service mental health treatment, or service generally. The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of the claimed conditions, as there is no competent and credible evidence showing current disabilities or a link to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee disabilities and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and anxiety) are not related to his active service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated noncompensably disabling, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied as the condition did not manifest during or relate to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder was manifested by depression, anger, sleep impairment, crying, isolation, irritability, obsession with the VA benefits claims process, paranoia, fatigue, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. The Board found that an initial disability rating of 50 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, chronic, associated with sinusitis with headaches was warranted for the period from April 13, 1998 to February 10, 2002.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a psychiatric disability, including depression and anxiety/mood disorders. The Board has ordered additional development to obtain records of hospitalizations during the claim period and requested an addendum opinion from a psychologist or psychiatrist regarding the etiology of each diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and verifying periods of active duty. A VA examination is also required to determine the nature and likely etiology of the claimed psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to an inadequate VA examination in July 2012. The Veteran is seeking service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder NOS and depressive disorder NOS.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders have not been related to service, and the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a personal hearing before a member of the Board by live videoconference. The issues include seeking an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for anxiety syndrome and seeking service connection for a low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a headache disorder were denied as there is no probative evidence that the conditions are related to her military service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the Veteran's current psychiatric diagnoses and their relationship to his military service. The case will be remanded for a VA examination.

The Veteran's major depression has been productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but not total occupational and social impairment. The claim for a higher initial evaluation remains on appeal.