Anxiety decisions — 2014

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have remained moderate since August 1, 2008. He is currently rated at 50 percent for PTSD and the Board finds that he meets criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, to determine if service connection can be granted for psychiatric disabilities other than PTSD.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and adjustment disorder is granted. The evidence supports a finding that the Veteran has these conditions due to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depression, and anxiety. The claim was also denied for a higher evaluation for his left femur stress fracture with lateral myofascial thigh pain and for individual unemployability based on service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for HTLV 1 and 2, anxiety and depression, peripheral neuropathy of the arms and legs, hepatitis C, and prostate cancer as a result of exposure to herbicides is dismissed due to withdrawal.,Veteran has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder with alcohol dependence is currently rated at 50 percent, and the appeal for a TDIU based on this condition has been denied due to the current rating already compensating him at the maximum rate.

The Board has characterized the issue on appeal as service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and depression. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional records and to schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was found to produce no more than occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a rating of 50 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder does not render him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GAD with PTSD had its onset in service and his bilateral hearing loss was incurred and/or aggravated by service. As such, both conditions are granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, are related to his service, specifically a physical assault during service.

The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extra-schedular consideration on the issue of entitlement to a TDIU. The Veteran's claim will be re-adjudicated considering this determination.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder has been found to result in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% rating.

The Veteran's service-connected dysthymic disorder and anxiety disorder are currently rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The claims for right knee chondromalacia and cervical spine degenerative disc disease have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, categorized as anxiety and bipolar/cognitive disorder, has been productive of total occupational and social impairment since the initial award of service connection in June 1998. A 100 percent disability rating is granted from June 30, 1998 to May 2, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive and anxiety disorders are related to his military service, including his Vietnam service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder prior to March 31, 2011 is rated at 30 percent based on occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent disabling for dysthymia and anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records from SSA.