Anxiety decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including a VA examination to assess the Veteran's anxiety disorder and its impact on his employability. The TDIU claim will also be referred for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence shows a link between his in-service stressor and current PTSD symptoms, thus granting service connection for PTSD. Service connection is denied for all other psychiatric disorders as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his acquired psychiatric disorder. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the mental health issue.

The Veteran's anxiety neurosis with schizoid personality resulted in considerable impairment of social and industrial adaptability from February 18, 1971 to April 28, 1976, warranting a 50 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Avera Heart Hospital of South Dakota on October 10 and 11, 2006 is granted due to the criteria being met.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for supplemental etiology opinions regarding any acquired psychiatric disorders present during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to January 17, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, was denied as there is no competent evidence of a nexus between any diagnosed condition and his active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as a persistent depressive disorder, pre-existed service and did not permanently increase in severity beyond the natural progression during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to outstanding records and the need for further examination. The Board will determine if his current psychiatric disorders are related to his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder is service connected, but his major depressive disorder is not. The claim for PTSD remains denied as there was no diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened and granted. Service connection for anxiety, depression, and PTSD has also been established. The Veteran's hepatitis C is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new psychiatric examination. The TDIU issue is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the higher disability rating claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, major depression, and anxiety disorder, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The VA examinations have found no link between these conditions and any in-service stressors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorder due to a lack of evidence showing a link between his current psychiatric conditions and military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a gastrointestinal disorder due to lack of clear and unmistakable evidence that these conditions pre-existed his period of active duty. The appeal is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of colon cancer, prostate cancer, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and anxiety), and hemorrhoids are denied as there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from private providers and VA treatment records, verifying an in-service stressor related to PTSD, and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records from Dr. Gregory Falk and providing an addendum to the May 2013 VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), was incurred in service and the Board grants service connection for anxiety disorder NOS.