Anxiety decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for various disabilities and assigned initial ratings, but denied the petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination. The issues include determining whether the Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD, anxiety, and depression are related to her active service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is pending as it relates to a separate issue.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, bipolar disorder with anxiety disorder, has been granted service connection and is currently rated at 30 percent since September 11, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a more contemporaneous VA examination and updated treatment records, particularly from Vet Centers. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to verify in-service stressors and obtain psychiatric treatment records. A VA examination will also be scheduled to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected back and psychiatric disabilities preclude all substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorders, is found to be related to his military service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to lack of VA records and need for a mental health examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, are found to be incurred in service due to a verified in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including intermittent explosive disorder, anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his current psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms, when considered with other diagnoses such as anxiety disorder and dysthymia, result in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board has determined that the criteria for a 30 percent rating are met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his anxiety disorder with alcohol abuse.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with depression is rated at 50 percent, the maximum available rating under DC 9400.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder is found to be the primary cause of his current cardiac disability. The combined rating for all service-connected disabilities has been at least 70% since December 2007, meeting the criteria for a TDIU. Therefore, the claim for TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and a new examination to determine the nature and etiology of her acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for ischemic heart disease and degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder were denied as his conditions did not warrant a rating greater than the assigned disability ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, must be remanded due to insufficient information provided by the RO in August 2009. The Veteran was not considered for a broad claim of service connection for any acquired psychiatric disorder and additional development is required.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and depression, finding that new evidence supports her claim. The Board also found in favor of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder.