Anxiety decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, major depression, anxiety, dysthymia, and a sleep disorder. The claim is now pending for further adjudication.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board finds that the Veteran is not entitled to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety and depression, or residuals of a head injury, including TBI, as there is no evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of service-connected dermatitis was denied. The Board found that the current 30 percent disability rating adequately reflects the severity and symptomatology of his condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder. The Board also found in favor of the Veteran on his claim for service connection, finding that his current diagnosis of these conditions is related to his combat service.

The Veteran's PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder have resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and the scheduling of an appropriate medical examination if feasible. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the major depressive disorder rating issue.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's anxiety disorder.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional VA treatment records and support group records, as well as to consider whether new and material evidence has been received for a right knee disability claim. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and anxiety disorder) will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder warrants a 30 percent disability rating, effective September 11, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and readjudicating the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA Vocational Rehabilitation records and scheduling a TDIU examination. The issues of service connection and entitlement to an initial disability rating are also pending.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to ensure all theories of entitlement have been considered and to obtain additional development regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination and to secure outstanding records, including VA treatment records from before 2008, SSA disability benefits records, and private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for service-connected anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified, with a history of alcohol and anxiolytic dependence is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder is etiologically related to service and granted service connection for this condition. The claim of PTSD was not substantiated, but the acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD (anxiety disorder) was found to be incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran does not have a current clinical diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The VA examinations and medical opinions found no evidence of such disorders.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a personality disorder and an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder and PTSD. The claim for initial compensable evaluation for hemorrhoids was also denied.