Anxiety decisions — 2015

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating based on the criteria provided in the Rating Schedule.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and arranging for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional action due to the complexity of the issues and the need for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all of his pending appeals, including those related to service connection for various conditions and disability ratings. As a result, the Board has dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the 30 percent evaluation of his service-connected chronic adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, as well as service connection for sleep apnea. The case has been remanded to obtain additional information regarding the earlier effective date claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of diabetes or glaucoma, and the left shoulder and neck disorders are not related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, other than PTSD, to include anxiety and depression, are not causally or etiologically related to service.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an examination and updated VA treatment records, as well as to clarify the etiology of any current psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus and sleep apnea were not incurred or aggravated by service, and denied his claims. The adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood was rated at 30 percent disabling.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder, and mood disorder as well as right knee disability are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in the original decision. The AOJ is instructed to schedule VA examinations to address these issues.

The Veteran's low back disability with radiculopathy was restored to a 50 percent rating effective April 12, 2007. The other issues remain pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and/or PTSD due to additional evidence received from the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 2, 2010, for a 70 percent evaluation and TDIU was granted. The effective dates are set at the date of receipt of the claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of her complete medical history.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation beginning November 1, 2006.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as due to a head injury with concussion, is being remanded for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's depression and anxiety have been rated at 50 percent since March 9, 2005. The rating for chondromalacia of the left knee is also at 50 percent.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and initial higher ratings for his service-connected low back disability, right knee disability, right foot disability, hepatic cyst disability, and right knee scar. The Board finds that a remand is necessary to obtain the Veteran's service personnel records concerning his court marshal and felony conviction for cocaine use, to provide a new VA examination(s) to determine the current severity of these disabilities, and to obtain VA treatment records from July 2015 from the Bay Pines VAMC.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service.