Anxiety decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and a new VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to his active duty service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board granted service connection for a mental disorder manifested by anxiety and depression, as well as service connection for a chronic multisymptom illness with headaches, IBS, fatigue, joint and muscle pain, and lack of energy related to the Veteran's Persian Gulf War service. Service connection was denied for blindness and cardiovascular disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to obtain his complete service personnel records and in-service mental health treatment records, as well as confirm the reported stressors. A VA examination is also needed to determine whether an acquired psychiatric disorder is related to military service and if a neck disability is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and adjudication, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new examination to assess the severity of her service-connected psychological disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 22, 2002, for the grant of service connection for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's initial claim was denied in 1997 and he did not file a new claim until 2002.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim is denied.

The Board found that the evidence submitted was not new and material, thus denying the request to reopen the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of frostbite on hands and feet, and an anxiety disorder (claimed as depression) secondary to the service-connected back injury with degenerative arthritis. The claim for a higher initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the service-connected back injury was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and anxiety disorder, was denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosis of PTSD during the appeal period. The preponderance of the evidence fails to establish that his diagnosed anxiety disorder is etiologically related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his generalized anxiety disorder was granted, with the current rating of 30 percent. The decision also addressed his TDIU claim and found that he is not entitled to this benefit.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for the acquired psychiatric disorder prior to July 16, 2012, based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosed anxiety disorder is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, and providing a new VA examination to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service or secondary to tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety is being remanded due to the need for additional mental health care records.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is considered secondary to his left knee injury residuals, while the psychiatric disability is linked to his current anxiety disorder and depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing a supplemental opinion from a VA psychologist regarding the diagnosed psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to comply with previous instructions and to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors. The claim will be reconsidered after these issues are addressed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple sclerosis and erectile dysfunction, but dismissed his claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, urinary complications, and an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as depression or anxiety).