Anxiety decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and clarification of his conditions, exposure basis, and theories of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including seeking clarification on SSA benefits and clarifying the in-service stressor related to PTSD. A VA examination will also be scheduled to address his back and hip claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate development of his service-connected adjustment disorder and TDIU claims. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a translation of Spanish language correspondence. The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety reaction (claimed as depression) is being reviewed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination and medical opinion to assess the current severity of her nonservice-connected acquired psychiatric disability, which encompasses diagnoses including bipolar disorder dysphoric mania, bipolar disorder NOS, depression, panic disorder with agoraphobia, and anxiety. The case will be reviewed by the AOJ after additional development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including generalized anxiety, panic and depressive disorders, and PTSD, has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. The Board finds a 70 percent disability rating is warranted.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate, and a new examination is needed to determine if any current acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current anxiety disorder and antisocial personality disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The preexisting conditions are considered to have existed prior to service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for her bilateral foot conditions has been granted. Her claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of his claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, including a mood disorder, is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder based on new and material evidence. The case is now remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (depressive disorder and anxiety), thyroid disability, and diabetes mellitus are remanded for further development.,PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (depressive disorder and anxiety) are being remanded for a VA examination to determine their etiology. The claims for thyroid disability and diabetes mellitus are also being remanded for a VA examination to determine their etiology, with consideration of the Veteran's reported exposure to ionizing radiation during service.,PTSD is being remanded for a VA examination to determine its etiology due to possible military sexual trauma. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (depressive disorder and anxiety) is also being remanded for a VA examination to determine its etiology.,The thyroid disability is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to the Veteran's service, including her reported exposure to ionizing radiation during service. The claim for diabetes mellitus is also being remanded for a VA examination to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, which includes PTSD and anxiety disorder with adjustment disorder, has been rated at 50 percent since October 13, 2010. The rating is for the current level of impairment due to symptoms such as sleep impairment, suicidal ideation, social isolation, paranoia, nightmares, hypervigilance, anger problems, avoidant behavior, near continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively, difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances, and an inability to establish and maintain effective relationships.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for all issues, including the initial disability rating for anxiety disorder and service connection for a mood disorder.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, NOS with subclinical PTSD is rated at 70 percent and his TDIU claim is granted. Service connection for DM2 remains pending as the appeal does not address this issue.

The Board found that the Veteran's depressive disorder was not incurred in service and is presumed to have existed prior to service. Anxiety disorders, including panic disorder with claustrophobia/agoraphobia, were also not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities to include anxiety disorder and PTSD were found to warrant a rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of claim (August 30, 2010).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA clinical records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine the current nature, extent, and severity of his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder. The claim will also be referred to the Director of Compensation for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU rating if it is determined that he cannot secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's anxiety and sleep disorder symptoms are part of his service-connected PTSD. The effective date for the 30 percent rating for PTSD with anxiety and a sleep disorder is September 16, 2011.