Anxiety decisions — 2014

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for low back muscle strain, reopening his previously denied claim. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and denied increased disability ratings for GAD and PTSD prior to August 20, 2012 and from that date forward, respectively. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination, and considering whether service connection should be granted or TDIU awarded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran should be provided a new VA examination to determine if he currently has PTSD and whether any acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his active military service. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of generalized anxiety disorder and his TDIU claim are both remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security records and VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address whether the Veteran's blindness is secondary to his service-connected traumatic brain injury with headaches and generalized anxiety with dementia.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incorrect hearing notice being sent to the Veteran's old address, and a new hearing is scheduled at the Huntington RO. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD remains on appeal.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records and VA treatment records, as well as private psychiatric and substance abuse treatment records. The Veteran is scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if she has an acquired psychiatric disorder due to military sexual trauma (MST).

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative due to the grant of a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for depression and anxiety. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete records and a need for further examination. The TDIU claim is part of the increase in rating claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, did not have their clinical onset in service and are not otherwise related to active duty. Psychosis was not exhibited within the first post-service year.

The Board denied service connection for schizophrenia, PTSD, anxiety disorder NOS, and mood disorder NOS.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and the issues of initial ratings for various service-connected conditions are dismissed due to withdrawal requests.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and depression. The Veteran's current mental health treatment records show positive screenings for depression, which raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of her acquired psychiatric disorders, and adjudicating both service connection and temporary total evaluation claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a VA psychological or psychiatric examination to evaluate the nature and severity of his service-connected PTSD and the relationship between his PTSD and alcohol dependence. The issue of service connection for alcohol dependence as secondary to service-connected PTSD will also be addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and information from the Social Security Administration. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of regulatory changes.