Anxiety decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and VA treatment records. The Veteran is also to be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including as secondary to his service-connected acne vulgaris with scarring, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is manifested by no more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. The criteria for a rating greater than 30 percent have not been met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, dizziness and vertigo, a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to June 20, 2011, and entitlement to TDIU. The Veteran's claim for increased rating of his hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to conflicting opinions on whether a valid diagnosis of PTSD can be established and if the Veteran's anxiety disorder is related to service or service-related stressors.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and any SSA disability benefit award records. The Veteran will be afforded a comprehensive VA psychiatric examination to determine whether his acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension are related to service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral blindness, including as secondary to traumatic brain injury with headaches and generalized anxiety with dementia secondary to traumatic brain injury. The case is being remanded for supplemental opinions from VA examiners.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from Drs. L.H., T.C., and Brandon Health Management.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to ensure compliance with the directives of the November 2014 Joint Motion, including providing an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder had its onset during service or is otherwise related to his active service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including verifying stressors and exposure to herbicides. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Adjustment Disorder with Depression, and Depression with Anxiety. The examiner will need to consider the September 2006 service treatment records discussing these conditions.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is at least as likely as not caused by or related to his active military service. The Veteran's porphyria cutanea tarda had onset to a compensable degree within one year of service or was caused by or related to the Veteran's active military service, to include his exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's mental health condition, specifically anxiety disorder, NOS, is found to be service-connected. Additionally, he meets the criteria for eligibility to VA treatment.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of non-service-connected pension benefits.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed anxiety and depression were not incurred in service, and thus denied his claims for service connection. The TDIU claim was also denied as there is no evidence showing he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety disorder NOS and depression, but denied his claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and considering all relevant evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder are rated at the highest possible level (100%) since April 14, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of major depressive disorder with history of substance abuse is service-connected, while PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by service.