Anxiety decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and depression, as well as PTSD. The Veteran's current conditions are found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's major depression is found to be related to service, specifically the stressors of harassment and assault during basic training. The claim for PTSD is denied as there are no current symptoms or evidence supporting a diagnosis.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and remanded it for further development. The claims for special monthly pension, TDIU, and service connection are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various psychiatric, sleep, back, neck, and skin disorders. The evidence did not show any such conditions during or within one year after his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder NOS and PTSD, was incurred in service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus is being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for recurrent dislocation of the left knee, acquired psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and sciatica is granted due to aggravation by service. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and sciatica are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected PTSD. The case will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a chest/cardiac disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that meets the criteria for compensation purposes.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for another hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder is causally related to her military service, and thus grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has found that additional development is required due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran's lay statements and testimony indicate she experienced personal assault during service, which may be indicative of an in-service stressor.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his anxiety disorder and its impact on his ability to work. The case will be returned to the RO/AMC for readjudication.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently evaluated at a 30 percent disability rating, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's death was ruled as a suicide due to self-inflicted gunshot wound. The cause of his psychiatric disorder, which contributed to the suicide, is believed to have existed prior to service and not related to military service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent, but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board found that her migraines occur approximately three to four times per month and have not most nearly approximated very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected anxiety disorder, NOS (claimed as PTSD) is being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records and a comprehensive psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and adjustment disorder with anxiety, is denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition during the pendency of his appeal. The Board notes that he had mental health complaints in service but did not have a diagnosed psychiatric disability at separation or currently.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for thoracic scoliosis is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic acquired back disability during his second period of active duty, which was found to be due to a congenital defect. The Veteran failed to report for VA examinations scheduled to determine the nature and etiology of any current back disability.