Anxiety decisions — 2014

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, did not have their onset during military service or are otherwise related to such service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 28, 2005, for the grant of service connection for depressive disorder with anxiety disorder is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders including PTSD and depression are found to be at least in part caused or aggravated by events in service in Southwest Asia.,Left ear hearing loss is found to have preexisted periods of active duty but underwent an increase in level of disability during active service.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for tooth discoloration and a higher initial rating for anxiety disorder were denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 30 percent for her anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, SSA records, and a new VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disability.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected anxiety disorder did not cause or materially contribute to his death. The claims for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 and 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 were also denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD, are not service-connected. His skin cancers have been found unrelated to his military service or presumed herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified, with features of generalized anxiety disorder and PTSD is April 9, 1971. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for anxiety disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and the evidence does not support a link between any diagnosed conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety/adjustment disorder and assigned an initial 50 percent rating, effective from the date of claim. The other issues remain pending.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent prior to October 15, 2013 and denied for a higher rating. From October 15, 2013, the Veteran's PTSD warrants a 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD, anxiety disorder NOS, intermittent explosive disorder, and depression is granted. His PTSD and associated depression are attributed to his combat experiences in Vietnam.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be service-connected due to a credible report of military sexual trauma during active duty, and the medical evidence supports this finding.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Anxiety Disorder NOS, and Depressive Disorder NOS is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records from Charleston VAMC.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure in Thailand. The Veteran's claims for hypertension, anxiety disorder, depression, lung disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board found that it does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board has reopened his claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but the evidence is not sufficient to establish a current disability or link it to military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The case is now remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including MDD, were not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service and denied his claim.