Anxiety decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding stressor verification.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, is related to service and the Board grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety, is being remanded due to the need to obtain his Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for adjustment disorder and residual scar were denied as there was no evidence of occupational or social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle strain, right foot disability, and left thumb injury have been granted initial ratings of 10 percent each. The acquired psychiatric disorder remains in dispute.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for headaches, COPD (claimed as emphysema and lungs), and bilateral knee disability. The new evidence received since the final decisions does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge, and to address the Veteran's appeal of the denial of a waiver of overpayment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's current diagnoses include PTSD, depression, and anxiety, which are related to active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination and additional VCAA notice, as well as to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder. The appellant seeks service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric disorders.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, respiratory disorder (sinusitis and allergic rhinitis), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the VA examiners' opinions were inadequate and remanded for further development. The claim is being returned to the AOJ for additional examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disability is caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, dysthymia with anxiety features, and depressive disorder, is currently evaluated at a 50 percent rating. The Board has determined that the evidence supports an increase to a 70 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for De Quervain's tenosynovitis, left wrist was dismissed due to the RO severing service connection for this condition effective February 1, 2011 on the basis of CUE.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder. The TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for his anxiety disorder has been dismissed as he withdrew the appeal in September 2015.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder with history of PTSD. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined and will be addressed concurrently.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is due to service, meeting the criteria for service connection.