Anxiety decisions — 2014

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with depression is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, effective June 26, 2009. The VA examiner found that the condition causes reduced reliability and productivity in terms of occupational and social functioning.

The Board found that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD due to MST, was not supported by evidence of a diagnosed condition and credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor. The claim was denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for total abdominal hysterectomy and granted service connection based on evidence showing a current diagnosis related to military service. The Veteran also received compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of sexual trauma sustained during a medical appointment in 2006.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety disorder and PTSD, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted. The Board also found that there is at least equipoise of evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric diagnoses are related to his in-service sexual assault, which aggravated a pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the claims for increased disability ratings for his schizoaffective disorder with dysthymia, and a history of major depressive disorder, depression, anxiety reaction and sleep disturbance, as well as service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder, have been dismissed.

The Board has found that there is no evidence of a chronic psychiatric disorder in service or within one year post-service, and the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are not shown to be related to his active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disorder and pleural plaques due to asbestos exposure, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. As such, the Board has determined that he is entitled to a TDIU.

The Board has determined that there is no probative evidence linking the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder, to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with anxiety and depressed mood was granted, but the initial rating of 50 percent has not been met for the period prior to June 9, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum to a VA examiner's opinion and considering new evidence. The Veteran is seeking service connection for anxiety and insomnia that she believes are related to her service-connected lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss or use of upper or lower extremities, blindness, anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands, deep partial or full thickness burns, or residuals of an inhalation injury. Therefore, the criteria for specially adapted housing and special home adaption grant are not met.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be a result of an in-service stressor, and the Board grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development including a VA examination to clarify the diagnosis and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD. Outstanding records must also be secured.

The Board has granted service connection for dysthymic disorder, anxiety disorder, personality disorder, major depressive disorder, and PTSD. The Veteran's pre-existing dysthymic disorder was found to have been aggravated by service.

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

The Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD (to include depression and anxiety) and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The Board will reconsider these claims as if the November 2012 decision had never been issued.

The Board found that the cause of the Veteran's death, acute myelogenous leukemia, was not caused by or related to service or a service-connected disability. The appellant's argument for service connection based on exposure to herbicides and secondary to prostate cancer were not supported.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining outstanding private treatment records and reviewing the evidence to determine if service connection can be granted for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder that includes PTSD, MDD, and anxiety.