Anxiety decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination and additional development of evidence. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is pending.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected major depressive disorder with anxiety is being remanded due to the need for updated VA and private treatment records, a new VA examination, and further development.

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

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The gastrointestinal disability and nonservice-connected pension benefits claims have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's anxiety and depression were rated at 30 percent from December 28, 2010 to April 11, 2012; increased to 50 percent from April 12, 2012 until June 16, 2013 when a temporary 100 percent rating was awarded; and finally rated at 70 percent as of September 1, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss in the right ear was denied as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability. The claims for service connection for PTSD, anxiety and depression, and headaches were not addressed due to their interrelated nature.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is secondary to his service-connected skin disability and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying the appellant's service in the Hawaii Air National Guard and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if his current acquired psychiatric disorder is related to any period of active or inactive duty.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting some occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his thoracic and lumbar spine disability. The issue of increased rating for cervical spine disability will also be addressed in a supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, low back disability, hernia, gout, and hypertension as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a Social and Industrial Survey to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities. The issues of entitlement to higher ratings for generalized anxiety disorder and bilateral hearing loss are also addressed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder, were denied as there is no competent evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service event, injury, or disease. The Board found that the Veteran's statements attributing his symptoms to employment, financial problems, family issues, political issues, social stressors, and health problems are not credible.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding specific stressful incidents in service that resulted in PTSD. Further development is needed, including obtaining records from the Social Security Administration and any State disability benefits.

The Veteran is seeking to establish service connection for additional psychiatric disabilities other than his PTSD. The Board has determined that further development, including obtaining Social Security records and a new opinion from the VA examiner regarding the aggravation of his acquired psychiatric disorders by his service-connected PTSD, is necessary.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and providing a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present acquired psychiatric disability.