Anxiety decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA mental disorders examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have at least as likely as not rendered him unemployable since May 2009, and the Board has determined that the criteria for entitlement to TDIU are met as of October 1, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his authorized representative, and therefore the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a video conference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an opinion on whether the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities existed prior to service and if so, whether they were aggravated by service. The claim will be reconsidered based on all evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and requesting information from SSA. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being reopened due to new evidence submitted since the last denial.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety Disorder are related to his service, including symptoms he experienced during service such as a suicide attempt. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development including obtaining SSA records, VA treatment records, and service mental health clinical records. A comprehensive psychiatric examination is also required to determine if any current psychiatric disability is causally related to the Veteran's service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD and anxiety disorder with depressed mood was denied as the evidence does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and panic disorder with agoraphobia are found to have been incurred during service, granting the claim for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected anxiety disorder, hypertension, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The TDIU claim is also dependent on these issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to conflicting medical evidence and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and anxiety disorder, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's anxiety disorder was diagnosed but is considered new and material evidence as his claim was broadened to include other diagnoses.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability, characterized as anxiety and depression, was permanently aggravated by her service-connected hysterectomy. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability, including anxiety, was not manifested in service or within one year of separation and is not related to his military service. Therefore, service connection for a psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's anxiety disorder did not meet or approximate criteria for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent, and denied service connection for Meniere's disease.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD based on new and material evidence. The issues of service connection for a psychiatric disability, cardiovascular disability, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling error and will provide an opportunity for the Veteran to present testimony at a hearing before the Board.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, mood disorder, and anxiety, are related to service.