Anxiety decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, is related to his military service and grants this claim.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to incomplete medical opinions regarding his service connection claims for depression and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as the need for additional examination of his pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the current level of impairment resulting from his service-connected disabilities and whether they are sufficient by themselves to render him housebound or require aid and attendance. The issues related to earlier effective dates and reopening a claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during his first period of active duty service from December 2008 to January 2010.,The Veteran has a current right knee disorder and the evidence is in equipoise as to whether it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues related to hearing transcripts and notification of evidence needed to substantiate the claims.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS has not been manifested by occupational and social impairment with an occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. Therefore, the claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety has been rated at 30 percent since March 15, 2011. The symptoms have caused occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his claims.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional development and clarification of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and addressing whether there was an in-service personal assault.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD due to MST with depression and anxiety attacks. The Veteran's claims for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, back condition with sciatica, and non-service connected pension are dismissed as she withdrew these issues from appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder NOS, and anxiety disorder NOS, is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records, provide an updated VA examination, and consider all submitted evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of recurrent major depressive disorder with anxiety features is denied as the earliest date of entitlement precedes the date of the reopened claim.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including depression and generalized anxiety disorder, are found to be related to his military service. Service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of anxiety and depression are etiologically related to his active duty service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were found to have their onset during active service, and he is currently assigned a non-compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The psychiatric disability claim was broadened to include PTSD, adjustment disorder with anxiety, and depression.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain relevant records and to provide the necessary medical examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for an anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and developing his TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is due to his military service and has been granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD remains denied and is still on appeal. The RO awarded service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder and unspecified depressive disorder (previously diagnosed as bipolar disorder) effective in February 2011, resulting in a net award of $30,243 to the Veteran. The appellant was granted attorney/agent fees for past-due benefits.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's anxiety disorder is secondary to his service-connected tinnitus, and thus grants service connection for an anxiety disorder.