Anxiety decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder NOS, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The claim for secondary service connection for alcohol dependence is also denied as there is no evidence linking it to his service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS, finding that it is related to his experiences in Vietnam during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for scars was denied as there is no current diagnosis of such. The earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD with mixed depression and anxiety was also denied.,Service connection for scars was not granted due to lack of evidence of a diagnosed condition, while service connection for PTSD was granted based on new evidence received after the initial denial.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including issuance of a Statement of the Case on his claim for increased evaluation for a psychiatric disability and referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension for consideration of TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, NOS, are related to his active military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but finds that further development is necessary due to conflicting diagnoses and incomplete medical records. The case is remanded for a new VA examination and additional treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a direct relationship between his service-connected back disability and his current anxiety symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his mental health conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of his claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date was factually ascertainable and granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD as of July 19, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records, schedule a VA examination for his depression, and develop the claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of VA treatment records.

The Veteran's diagnosed conditions of PTSD, MDD, and anxiety disorder are found to be causally related to his in-service military stressors. The Board grants service connection for these psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now pending. The Board has determined that the Veteran is competent to handle his funds without limitation, and new and material evidence has been received to reopen his claims of diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy, colon cancer, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hepatitis C are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing records and confirming the authenticity of a letter from his captain.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss was granted, and he is currently receiving a 10% evaluation for left ear hearing loss. The heart disability to include coronary artery disease, seizure disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder and anxiety disorder) are not service connected.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities of hands and arms do not result in loss of use.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, anxiety, and severe depression, are not service connected due to the lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty. The in-service drug use is considered willful misconduct.,Left hip osteoarthritis was not present during service or within one year post-service and is unrelated to service-connected disability. Atherosclerotic vascular calcification was also not present during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA examination reports and reviewing his claims file to determine the severity of his anxiety disorder and the nature and etiology of any residuals of a TBI.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue of entitlement to a higher initial rating for gastritis with helicobacter pylori ulcer has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal at his July 2012 hearing.