Anxiety decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, anxiety, hernia residuals, and variant Creutzfeld-Jacobs disease (mad cow disease) have been denied. The claim for hypertension has been reopened but not granted due to lack of current disability evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder have been granted. The effective date of the grant is not specified.

The Board found that the appellant does not have a diagnosed acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and anxiety, incurred or aggravated during service. The VA examination report did not support a diagnosis of PTSD based on DSM-5 criteria.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is found to be related to her service. The low back condition is not shown to be causally related to service or presumed due to exposure.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 60 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5237 for intervertebral disc syndrome. The Board finds that the evidence supports this rating as it includes incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome lasting at least six weeks during the past twelve months.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, combined with his dementia, results in significant occupational and social impairment that prevents him from securing or maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal involves a claim for increased ratings for anxiety disorder with PTSD and a TDIU. The Board has partially granted the benefits sought on appeal, leaving some issues unresolved.

The Veteran's PTSD has been attributed to his active duty service and the Board found that the criteria for service connection have been met, granting the claim.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder not otherwise specified with features of PTSD have been granted a disability rating of 50 percent, effective May 18, 2014. His bilateral hearing loss has also been granted increased ratings.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim was withdrawn. The Board granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, residuals of an insect bite to the left groin (claimed as a knot on the leg), and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression and anxiety).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety, had its onset in service or is otherwise etiologically related to his active service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including an anxiety disorder and adjustment disorder, were incurred during his period of active service. The Board found that the evidence in this case is so evenly balanced as to allow application of the benefit-of-the-doubt rule.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, disability of the trigger finger, thumb, and little finger of the left hand as secondary to residuals of a fracture of the proximal phalanx of the left ring finger, neurological condition of the right arm, fibromyalgia, and osteoarthritis of the arms, low back, and feet.,The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened but remain denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for generalized anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, erectile dysfunction, and vertigo are all secondary to his service-connected disabilities (asthma and tachycardia). As such, these claims have been granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including panic disorder and anxiety disorder, is granted. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that there was no competent and credible evidence to support a link between any of these disabilities and active duty or exposure to toxic substances. The Veteran's Graves' disease and diabetes were found not to have onset in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, and initial disability ratings in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, residuals of a gunshot wound of the left buttocks, and surgical scar of the left buttocks were all denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease was not reopened due to lack of material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of service periods and obtaining service treatment records from the Army Reserves. The issues include reopening a claim for bilateral inguinal hernias, entitlement to hypertension service connection, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.