Anxiety decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and examination, including obtaining records related to the Veteran's 1979 divorce proceedings and scheduling a mental disorders examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to evaluate the severity of his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression. The new evidence shows that her current diagnoses of anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder are related to military service.

The Board has expanded the issue to include all diagnosed psychiatric conditions, and a VA examination is needed to determine if any current psychiatric disability is related to service. The Veteran's claim for PTSD will be evaluated based on the criteria set forth in the DSM-IV.

The Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder that is causally related to his military service and the Board finds no evidence linking any current psychiatric condition to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's discharge from active duty was due to a service-connected disability, meeting the eligibility requirements for Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (recurring major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder NOS, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.,The evidence shows that the Veteran's obesity, which is linked to his sedentary lifestyle due to his knee disabilities, contributed to his diabetes and hypertension. His psychiatric condition is also likely related to his overall health issues.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for a CVA with short-term memory loss, anxiety, depression, and disequilibrium. The VA examiner found that there was no current medical literature to support that stress caused an increase in blood pressure or led to the appellant's CVA.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to service. The examiner will review the Veteran's private medical records and provide opinions on whether his diagnoses meet the criteria for PTSD under DSM-V standards and if any other diagnosed conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and verifying periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) with the Air National Guard. A VA examination is also required to determine the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The effective date of the TDIU was set at December 1, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a psychiatric examination to determine the relationship between her current psychiatric disorders and service.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a neuropsychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's anxiety-related symptoms.

The Board determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS was found to meet the criteria for a 30 percent rating prior to November 9, 2012. The appeal is not about service connection and thus does not involve any presumption or exposure basis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety disorder and PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for another VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and insomnia as secondary to PTSD. The remaining acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety not otherwise specified, depressive disorder not otherwise specified, and cannabis dependence, are being considered on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorder had its onset during service or was caused by service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating of 40 percent effective January 15, 2013.