Anxiety decisions — 2015

The Veteran's condition, including his service-connected anxiety disorder and vascular dementia, necessitates regular aid and attendance. The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his attorney, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, dysthymic disorder, and anxiety, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his right knee disorder, psychiatric disorders (including PTSD), and alcohol dependence.

The Board denied the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there is no competent evidence showing a psychiatric disability related to service or his cause of death.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disability causally related to, or aggravated by, active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a vocational specialist examination to determine the impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his ability to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for anxiety disorder and service connection for low back, eustachian tube dysfunction, and seizure disorders. The claims were also denied for TDIU due to service-connected disability.

The Board is remanding the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Vet Center treatment records and VA mental health treatment records. The Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are also being remanded as the RO has not issued a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and notification of the appellant's status as a substituted party.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives and insufficient response from the VA examiner regarding the etiology of the appellant's psychiatric disorders.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric and back disorders did not have their clinical onset in service or within the first post-service year, and are not otherwise related to active duty. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder has resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent rating. The evidence does not support an increase to higher ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional service records and medical records, as well as to seek an addendum opinion regarding his eye disorders. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, right eye conjunctivitis, and acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded.

The Veteran's income exceeds the maximum annual pension rate, thus he is not eligible for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his hearing impairment did not meet VA compensation criteria and his psychiatric condition was not related to service. The Veteran is currently service-connected for tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder and depressive disorder. The right eye disorder (cataract) claim is remanded due to the lack of a Statement of Claim (SOC).

The Veteran's right foot disorder, low back disorder, and sleep apnea were not shown to be related to service. The acquired psychiatric disorder is also not linked to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and to ensure all relevant treatment records are obtained. The issues of service connection for PTSD, adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, and sleep apnea will be addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD, but finds that his anxiety disorder, NOS, is related to in-service stressors and grants service connection for this condition.