Anxiety decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a chronic psychiatric disorder, left ankle disorder, or liver disorder in service and concluded that the current conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has caused occasional impairment in work efficiency and social functioning, but not to the extent that would warrant a higher initial rating. The current disability level does not meet the criteria for a 50% or higher evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining mental health clinic records from his period of service and a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of any current psychiatric disorders.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a currently diagnosed psychiatric disability subject to compensation, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to clarify the Veteran's current diagnoses as they relate to mental health diagnostic criteria and to obtain adequate etiological opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further development regarding his service connection claim and evaluation of a scar. The AOJ must verify if he was on guard duty at a medical clinic in Kuwait, conduct another VA examination for psychiatric disorders, and schedule an additional VA examination for the left acromioclavicular joint reconstruction.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder were rated at 30% prior to June 10, 2010. From June 10, 2010 through August 3, 2010, the rating was increased to 50%. However, from August 4, 2010 onwards, a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and a higher initial rating for his service-connected PTSD and related symptoms, including anxiety and depression.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss prior to a decision being made by the Board.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and he is granted service connection for this condition. The Board also finds that the Veteran's anxiety/depression disability warrants a higher initial rating, but remands the issue of entitlement to TDIU due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as he does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and his mood disorder with psychotic features is less likely than not related to service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions and determine if there are any new or material issues related to his claims.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for skin cancer was reopened and granted. However, his claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including anxiety and depression) were denied.

Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus, type II, a prostate disorder, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and left knee degenerative joint disease as the evidence does not support these claims. Service connection was previously denied for tinea pedis in 1973, and new and material evidence has not been received to reopen this claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a link between his current symptoms and any in-service stressor.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with PTSD symptoms resulted in moderate occupational and social impairment, warranting a 30 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case for extraschedular consideration of an increased rating and TDIU claims due to service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood. The Veteran's employment history, educational and vocational attainment, and all other factors having a bearing on her employability are to be considered.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was rated at 50 percent prior to July 7, 1980 and the Board granted a higher rating of 70 percent for this period. The Veteran is now entitled to a 100 percent disability rating from July 6, 1980 through June 21, 1999.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety disorder, NOS has been rated at 70 percent since November 21, 2012. The appeal is granted for this rating.