Anxiety decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression was denied, while his Generalized Anxiety Disorder was granted. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) and others were denied (PTSD and Depression).

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting diagnoses and inadequacies of the November 2010 VA examination. A new VA examination by a different VA psychologist or psychiatrist is needed to determine the nature and etiology of all diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS and major depressive disorder have been rated at 70 percent since November 4, 2013. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has determined that additional efforts should be made to corroborate the Veteran's reported stressors and a VA examination is needed to clarify his current psychiatric diagnoses and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's anxiety and dysthymic disorders are caused by fear of hostile military activity during service in Vietnam, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, which reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The symptoms include flattened affect, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing effective work and social relationships.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD, has been reopened. Further development is needed before the Board can adjudicate his claim.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety disorder NOS and bipolar disorder, finding that these conditions are etiologically related to the Veteran's active service. The issues of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for radiculopathy, left leg; a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for internal derangement, right knee status post meniscectomy; and entitlement to TDIU have been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a contemporaneous mental health evaluation and additional medical records. The case will be returned to the Board for further review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling new examinations, and determining the appropriate disability ratings.

The Veteran's death was caused by a motor vehicle accident, and there is no evidence of any service-connected disability or mental health condition that contributed to his death. The claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear requests for hearings and needs clarification from the Veteran.

The Board has found that the appellant's notice of disagreement was timely filed and is addressing the issues related to earlier effective dates for service connection for Parkinson's disease and anxiety disorder with depressive features. The RO denied these claims, but the appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board has determined that a new examination is needed to address the etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depressive disorder. The Veteran's claims file was reviewed, but additional stressors are claimed by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion to determine if the Veteran's diagnosed Anxiety Disorder, NOS, mild, with episodes of depression is causally or etiologically related to active duty, including his service in Korea.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied as there was no clear and unmistakable error in the prior rating decisions, and the earliest possible effective date is June 23, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing and issuance of a Statement of the Case in connection with the overpayment of disability compensation benefits issue.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and an anxiety disorder, are found to be service-connected as they are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a videoconference hearing due to the Veteran's request, and will not make any determination on the merits of the service connection claim.