Anxiety decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD is related to his military service, specifically his time in Iraq where he experienced stressors such as receiving enemy fire and a mortar attack. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, impulse control disorder, and depression) is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a new VA examination to determine the etiology of his diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for major depression. The Veteran's current TBI residuals were found to be incurred in service, and his current psychiatric disorder is considered to have originated from his military service.

The Board denied all service connection claims, including those for schizophrenia, anxiety and depression, hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of a fractured left tibia, back condition, and sciatica of the left lower extremity. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for schizophrenia.

The Board has determined that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as a result of service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and PTSD, is related to his service. The VA examiner found a direct link between the Veteran's traumatic military experiences in boot camp and his current diagnosis of anxiety disorder with features of PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing a supplemental VA opinion.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance or being housebound has been denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, issuance of a Statement of the Case on certain issues, and obtaining outstanding treatment records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and remanded the case to obtain a VA examination and additional medical records. The Veteran is seeking to establish service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

The Board has remanded the case due to the submission of additional Federal records which require the issuance of a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Veteran's anxiety reaction disability is currently rated at 50 percent from April 27, 2007 to July 6, 2010.

The Board found no medical link between the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor and his current diagnoses of PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorder. As a result, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically anxiety disorder, was denied as the evidence did not show total social and occupational impairment. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and failure to address occupational impairment. The Veteran's anxiety disorder claim is being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to outstanding VA treatment records, need for stressor verification, and need for examinations.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated at 50 percent since July 29, 2010. The psychiatric disability has also been granted but with a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, NOS with bruxism resulted in significant impairment including difficulty remembering names and dates, problems maintaining social relationships, and concentration issues. The VA has granted a higher disability rating of 50 percent for this period.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected coronary artery disease and an evaluation of whether he is unemployable due to his disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability in his left ear, and there is no evidence of such during service. For the acquired psychiatric disability claim, the Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the Veteran's claim for PTSD due to military sexual trauma.