Anxiety decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's atherosclerosis of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is due to his service-connected ischemic heart disease. The Veteran has metatarsalgia of the right foot, but no other diagnosed foot condition. His acquired psychiatric disability (adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression) and kidney disease are not related to his active service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's account of a nasal injury sustained during active duty is credible and supports his claim. The other issues remain pending for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration disability benefits information and National Guard service records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and occurrence of a claimed in-service stressor event, which may be relevant to his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, diabetes mellitus, and related disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for complications from gall bladder surgery, including surgical scars and allergic reactions to tape used post-surgery. The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran sustained additional disability due to VA care.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was previously denied. New evidence has been submitted, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or an anxiety disorder related to military service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS is related to active duty service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for her low back disability and lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a current disability related to her inservice complaints of pelvic pain, which is necessary to establish service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of Lyme disease and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is currently rated at 30 percent, effective August 26, 2013. The VA determined that the condition primarily manifests as recurring panic attacks occurring 3 to 5 times per week with chronic sleep impairment, treated with pharmacotherapy; this psychiatric disorder is objectively demonstrated to be manifested by clinical findings of occupational and social impairment with mild or transient psychiatric symptoms during periods of significant stress.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for new evidence. The case will be returned to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) after all necessary actions are taken.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of any psychiatric disabilities. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as his initial ratings for other conditions, were granted. The rating for status post resection of the small intestine and colon was increased to 20 percent effective from September 20, 2012.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression and anxiety, as well as PTSD. The Veteran's claims were reopened based on the submission of new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for cold injuries of the upper and lower extremities with polyneuropathy is dismissed. The Board finds that he has current diagnoses of osteoarthritis of his right ankle and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety disorder, and dysthymic disorder, which are related to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for low back and psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's GAD with PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.