Anxiety decisions — 2014

The Veteran wishes to withdraw his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression and anxiety, to include as secondary to head trauma. As such, the appeal is dismissed without prejudice.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for PTSD and whether his current psychiatric disorders are related to service, including in-service stressors. The VA will also attempt to obtain records from the Ventnor Vet Center.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disability (including depression, anxiety, and PTSD) have been granted. The decision also notes that the Veteran's presence in Japan during a riot following his service has not been verified.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically anxiety, is related to his active service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety neurosis and PTSD were rated at 30 percent prior to February 3, 1988, and 50 percent from February 3, 1988, to December 14, 1991.,The effective date for a TDIU rating based on unemployability due to psychiatric disorder was granted as of December 15, 1991.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for tinnitus and determined that new evidence supports a finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure. The issue of an increased rating for anxiety disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the onset of his condition during service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for generalized anxiety disorder was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 70 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety and depression, secondary to choledocholithiasis and type II sphincter of oddi dysfunction, as well as her claim for an increased rating for cholecystectomy with history of gallstones, choledocholithasis, type II sphincter of oddi and constipation have been granted. The issue of a higher evaluation for the service-connected disability remains pending.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to ensure there is a complete record upon which to decide the Veteran's claim for service connection so he is afforded every possible consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and determined that it is at least as likely as not that he suffered from PTSD due to a verified in-service stressor. The TDIU claim was also remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, pain disorder, mood disorder, and adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood. The Board also did not address his other issues as they are considered 'unknown' due to lack of specific service connection claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a social and industrial survey to determine if his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are not related to his active duty service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 30, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and verifying any in-service stressors related to PTSD. The Veteran's low back and right shoulder disorders are also being examined by VA clinicians.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD during the appeal period and his depressive disorder and anxiety are not etiologically or causally related to active service.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction manifested in loss of erectile power prior to November 22, 2010, but deformity of the penis was not shown until November 22, 2010.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for scoliosis, PTSD, and anxiety disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining relevant VA and SSA records.