Anxiety decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have sinusitis or allergic rhinitis that may be related to his active service. However, he was granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder with depression).

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further development and examination, including an opinion on whether any current psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disability was not incurred or aggravated in ADT service and denied his claims for secondary service connection for hypertension and psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's anxiety neurosis and PTSD have resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, family relations, thinking, and mood due to symptoms including occasional short-term psychosis, mild disorientation spells, memory and concentration deficits, impaired abstract thinking, and occasional suicidal ideation. The criteria for a 70 percent rating are met.,The Veteran's anxiety neurosis and PTSD have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for clarification and additional development by a VA examiner.

The Board has dismissed the appeal because a timely substantive appeal was not filed within 60 days of the October 2008 rating decision, and no request for extension of time to file an appeal was submitted.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA treatment records and to schedule the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination to determine if his current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder, and PTSD, secondary to her service-connected GERD is being remanded due to the need for a VA addendum opinion on whether her current psychiatric disorders are aggravated by her service-connected GERD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at the highest available rating of 70 percent since October 3, 2012. The disability is characterized by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as flattened affect, intermittent panic attacks, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired judgment, and disturbances of motivation and mood.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing the Veteran with a new VA examination to address his claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for boils on the head was denied in June 2005, and no new and material evidence has been received to reopen this claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied in June 2005. New and material evidence has been received to reopen this claim.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to have been the result of herbicide exposure during his active service. The Board finds that the Veteran served near the perimeters of the Royal Thai Air Force base at Nakh Phanom in Thailand and is therefore presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with depression has been rated at 50 percent, the highest available rating under Diagnostic Code 9413, due to significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for medical examination and treatment records review, as well as a remand of the case back to the AOJ.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment commensurate with his education and training background.

The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection of the cause of the Veteran's death, but denied the claim due to lack of entitlement under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to service or an in-service incident, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected inactive pulmonary tuberculosis is found to be the primary cause of his current chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular conditions (including coronary artery disease and hypertension), sleep apnea, right lower extremity femur fracture, left lower extremity femur fracture, anxiety disorder NOS, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and back condition involving degenerative joint disease.,The Veteran's service-connected inactive pulmonary tuberculosis is found to be the primary cause of his current cardiovascular conditions (including coronary artery disease and hypertension), sleep apnea, right lower extremity femur fracture, left lower extremity femur fracture, anxiety disorder NOS, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and back condition involving degenerative joint disease.,The Veteran's service-connected inactive pulmonary tuberculosis is found to be the primary cause of his current sleep apnea, right lower extremity femur fracture, left lower extremity femur fracture, anxiety disorder NOS, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and back condition involving degenerative joint disease.,The Veteran's service-connected inactive pulmonary tuberculosis is found to be the primary cause of his current right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy.,The Veteran's service-connected inactive pulmonary tuberculosis is found to be the primary cause of his current anxiety disorder NOS, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and back condition involving degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, diagnosed as dysthymic disorder and anxiety disorder, was found to be related to his military service. The initial rating for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is granted at a 10 percent level.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD with anxiety and depression is causally related to service, thus granting his claim for service connection.