Anxiety decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, increased ratings for cognitive disorder, depression and anxiety, cerebrovascular accident with right hand tremor, headaches, and bilateral hearing loss have been withdrawn.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to clarify his current diagnoses and determine if any of his conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted an initial 50 percent evaluation for PTSD with anxiety disorder, effective from August 3, 2010. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to effectively preclude all but part-time sedentary work in a quiet, stress-free environment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia, major depressive disorder (MDD), and anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and provide proper VCAA notice, particularly for PTSD. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's heart disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, Anxiety, Depression) are both found to be secondary to his service-connected asthma.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent prior to July 18, 2011 and at 50 percent thereafter. He is also granted a TDIU effective December 17, 2014.,PTSD symptoms include depression, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss, restricted affect, panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty understanding complex commands, disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty in establishing and maintaining work and social relationships, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, anger and irritability, intrusive thoughts, nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance, isolation, hypervigilance, and exaggerated startle response.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder have been rated at 50 percent since April 30, 2010.,The Board has determined that the criteria for a TDIU are met due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with major depressive disorder has been rated at 50 percent since January 21, 2011. The VA examiner found that the symptoms have not met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, primarily PTSD and depression, has been found to warrant a 50 percent initial evaluation. The issue of entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is also granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and anxiety disorder. The Board finds that the weight of the evidence demonstrates that the Veteran does not have such disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for adjustment disorder with anxiety, bilateral plantar fasciitis and flat feet, and lumbar spine osteoarthritis and L5 disk bulge. The Veteran's conditions are believed to be related to his military service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, dysthymic disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and mood disorder. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records, a personal assault stressor determination, and an updated medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected anxiety disorder, and for additional development regarding his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim due to inadequate examination and internal inconsistencies in the opinion provided. A new VA psychiatric examination is necessary to determine if any current acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, had its clinical onset during active service or is related to any in-service disease, event, or injury.

The Board has remanded the case for compliance with a joint motion for remand (JMR) and additional development, including obtaining lay statements from the Veteran and other individuals who have first-hand knowledge of his in-service and post-service psychiatric symptoms. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. For the issue of a rating in excess of 40 percent for benign prostate hyperplasia, the Board found that there was no evidence showing use of an appliance or wearing absorbent materials more than four times per day. The mental disorder claim was denied due to lack of cooperation during examinations. Service connection for loss of use of a creative organ was also denied.