Anxiety decisions — 2016

The Veteran's chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as anxiety disorder NOS with mixed anxiety and depressive features, was granted a 50 percent initial rating from April 3, 2009 to May 19, 2016.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability contributed substantially or materially to cause his death. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the current nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and a skin disorder.

The Veteran's claim for anxiety disorder was reopened and granted. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether a psychiatric disability, diagnosed as depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, is related to active service.,Service connection for PTSD is not established because the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or a bilateral eye disability. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, depressive disorder NOS, and major depressive disorder with anxious features, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is being remanded due to incomplete development of records. The Veteran will be provided with a supplemental statement of the case after any additional development.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities other than PTSD are not related to service, and thus denied his claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right knee and associated foot conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of June 7, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to credible supporting evidence of a sexual assault during service and medical opinions linking his current conditions to this stressor.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for additional examinations. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for sacroiliitis and assigned a non-compensable rating for lichen planus. The Veteran's current skin condition does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder, and there is no evidence linking his symptoms to service. The claim for GERD was also denied as there is no clear relationship between the condition and his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service personnel records and a need for a new medical opinion. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders are being reviewed again.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain medical opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's death, specifically whether his service-connected prostatitis aggravated pre-existing depression and anxiety, leading to suicide.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, low back disability, and left knee disability are not service-connected as they did not manifest within one year of separation from service or are not otherwise related to military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD and panic disorder. The Veteran's current diagnoses are supported by medical evidence linking his symptoms to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the severity of his generalized anxiety disorder. Additionally, he must be scheduled for a VA examination to determine if he is unemployable due to his service-connected disability.

The Board found no evidence of PTSD or a nervous disorder related to service and denied the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled videoconference hearing. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.