Anxiety decisions — 2016

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD, primary insomnia, panic disorder, and GAD. The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional information regarding the correction of his DD Form 214.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder NOS, depression and adjustment disorder with anxiety/depression, is being remanded due to inadequate examination and the need for a new opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to deficiencies in the November 2015 VA examination report and because of the possibility that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders may have pre-existed his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the relationship between his tinnitus and service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and a new examination is needed to determine if any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, is of service onset or otherwise related to active service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have additional mental health disabilities other than PTSD, and therefore denied service connection for anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. The claims for various joint disabilities were also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing psychiatric disability was aggravated during his second and third periods of service, leading to a grant of service connection for this condition. The back disability is also presumed to have been aggravated by service.

The Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70% disability rating since March 22, 2002. Effective from March 22, 2002, the Veteran was found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was rated at 10 percent effective September 22, 2015. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for an adjustment disorder and expanded it to include anxiety disorder. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of service connection for Achilles tendonitis due to withdrawal by the appellant. The Veteran's anxiety and depressive disorders are found to be related to his in-service traumatic experience, while sleep apnea is considered to have developed during service.

The Board has expanded the Veteran's claim for PTSD to include all acquired psychiatric disorders. The case is REMANDED due to inadequate VA examination and need for additional medical findings on causation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining verification of in-service stressors and medical records, as well as a VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a supplemental opinion from the VA compensation examiner regarding the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder is not related to service and denied his claims for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service and grants service connection for this condition. For his acquired psychiatric disorder, the Board finds that there is sufficient evidence to support a finding of secondary service connection.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed adjustment disorder with anxiety is related to his service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

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.