Anxiety decisions — 2015

The Veteran's hypertension, herpes, and facial acne have been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period.,The Veteran's anxiety disorder has been rated at 70 percent since March 5, 2011. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder. The TDIU claim will also be referred to the Director, Compensation Service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder with PTSD is dismissed as a matter of law due to the finality of the July 1978 rating decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD and his diagnosed depressive disorder or anxiety disorder are not related to his military service, including any alleged stressors.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be causally related to his period of military service, and the Board finds that service connection for this condition is warranted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an addendum to the August 2012 VA examination report.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating from 30 percent to 10 percent for chondromalacia of the right knee, effective October 1, 2009, was proper based on improvement in his condition as shown by VA examinations.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including major depression and anxiety disorder not otherwise specified, to his active service. The diagnoses were attributed to substance abuse rather than military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a VA examination. The Veteran's initial rating for anxiety disorder with PTSD symptoms remains unchanged.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of Anxiety Disorder, not otherwise specified is granted as service connected. However, the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis are not met.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is found to be related to his service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. Service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of his mental health treatment records.

The Veteran's various psychiatric diagnoses, including adjustment reaction, anxiety disorder NOS, and panic disorder with agoraphobia, are found to be related to his service experiences. Service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 25, 1999 for service connection of anxiety and schizoaffective disorders. The decision found that the July 1977 rating decision did not contain clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging comprehensive examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected GSW residuals in the left knee and anxiety disorder. The RO should also consider a full grant of benefits from August 3, 2012 to the present.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further development. The issues include rating his anxiety and depressive disorder, increased hearing loss disability, left ear hearing loss, cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, ischemic heart disease, and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome. The claims are also remanded for an opinion on whether he has any acquired psychiatric disability related to service or aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for alcoholism, psychosis, and a back disability. The decision also denied his claim for an increased evaluation for tinnitus and his request to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disability. For PTSD, the Board found that he met the criteria for a 70% rating prior to January 22, 2014 but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating since then.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for his adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood was denied. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.