Anxiety decisions — 2014

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

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it does not result in total social and occupational impairment.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his depressive and anxiety symptoms are more likely related to his substance abuse rather than his military service. As such, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are rated at 30 percent since November 21, 2006. The Board has remanded the case for additional development and a new VA examination to address the impact of alcohol abuse on his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, provide a VA examination for his psychological conditions and hearing loss, and determine the appropriate service connection theory.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has been granted service connection and rated at 30 percent, the lowest possible rating under the applicable criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for an anxiety disorder and restored the rating of 50% for depressive disorder, but denied service connection for schizophrenia. The reduction in ratings for bilateral flat feet with Achilles tendonitis and chondromalacia patella with medial meniscal tear of the right knee was not proper.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms included depression, anxiety, flattened affect, rushed speech, panic attacks often at night, significant impairment of short term memory, disturbances in motivation and mood, increasing irritability, sleep impairment, suicidal ideation without a plan, obsessional rituals, and emotional detachment. The Board granted an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD prior to May 3, 2012.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, cardiac disability, and hypertension have been denied service connection. The chronic cough has not been established as related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder and finds no evidence linking his current psychiatric disabilities to service. Therefore, service connection for a psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board has ordered additional VA treatment records to be obtained and the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a gynecological disorder are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, paranoid schizophrenia, anxiety disorder, and depression, are not related to service.,The criteria for compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a seizure disorder due to medical care from April 23-25, 2006, are not met.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder, finding new and material evidence. The Board also found that these conditions are related to events in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private records of his treatment for anxiety disorder NOS, scheduling a VA examination to assess the current nature, extent, and severity of his disability, and readjudicating the issue in light of any additional evidence.

The Veteran's appeals have been partially granted with some issues being granted and others denied. The effective dates are not assigned as the evidence does not show a pending claim prior to his November 2007 application.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was denied as there is no evidence of a verified in-service stressor and the acquired psychiatric disorders are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service.

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

The Board has granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active service. Service connection for PTSD was denied.