Anxiety decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for further examination to clarify whether any diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder related to service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder is currently rated at 50 percent disabling since January 13, 2015. The rating was granted based on new evidence that reopened the claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing nightmare disorder did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during his period of active duty from 1975 to 1979 and thus, service connection for a nightmare disorder is not warranted. The other acquired psychiatric disorders are also not related to this period of service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right inguinal hernia and for increased ratings for his anxiety disorder, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The issues of increased ratings for an anxiety disorder, a right knee disability, and a left knee disability, and a TDIU are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for an additional VA aid and attendance examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone render him housebound or in need of regular aid and attendance of another.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder with panic disorder with agoraphobia was granted, and he is currently rated at 70 percent. The claims for reopening left knee and dental trauma service connection were denied. He also received a TDIU based on his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, NOS, has been granted a disability rating of 50 percent for the entire initial rating period from April 24, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to clarify his psychiatric diagnosis and obtain a medical nexus opinion regarding the relationship between his acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, and service. Additionally, an examination for rheumatoid arthritis will be arranged.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current depressive disorder, NOS and generalized anxiety disorder are etiologically related to his active military service. The Veteran's insomnia is considered a symptom of his anxiety disorder.

The Board has determined that the evidence is sufficient to warrant the grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, as secondary to service-connected tinnitus. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders are found to be caused by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, as well as a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right wrist injury with scar, are pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for anxiety disorder, but granted TDIU based on his combined disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected dysthymic disorder with depression and anxiety does not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's anxiety and depressive disorder with panic attacks have been rated at the maximum allowable under the applicable rating criteria. The pseudotumor cerebri has not been found to affect her ability to work, leading to a denial of her claim for increased disability ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, psychotic disorder NOS, and bipolar disorder NOS, had their onset during military service and are otherwise etiologically related to his military service. After applying the benefit of doubt, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed conditions of PTSD, anxiety, depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and adjustment disorder with mixed emotional features are related to her service. As such, she is granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, and thus grants a TDIU rating on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's dysthymic disorder with anxiety was initially evaluated as 50 percent disabling prior to July 7, 2012. As of that date, the disability is now rated at 70 percent.