Anxiety decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder and anxiety, is causally related to his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with major depressive disorder has been rated at 70 percent disabling since January 21, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence shows total occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as flat affect, impaired judgment, and difficulty in establishing effective relationships.

The Veteran's mood disorder with anxiety and depression was initially rated at 10 percent prior to September 18, 2013. From September 18, 2013, the rating was increased to 30 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder has been rated at 50 percent since September 20, 2010. The rating is based on occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as depressed mood, chronic sleep impairment, nightmares, social isolation, panic attacks, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety NOS and PTSD, is granted. The claim for wounds from shrapnel to the left wrist and upper middle chest remains pending.

The Veteran's chronic vasomotor rhinitis with recurrent epistaxis is found to be related to service, and service connection for this condition is granted. The Board finds that additional development is needed for the remaining issues on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, hepatitis C, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety and depression), erectile dysfunction, peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities, and several types of neuropathy. The decision was based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a mailing error, and the SSOC should be resent to the correct address.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for further development due to outstanding private treatment records and VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety, major depressive disorder, and dysthymic disorder, did not meet the criteria for service connection as it preexisted his entrance into service and was not aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The VA examiners concluded it is less likely as not that these conditions are related to his experiences during military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran has a current acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and whether it is related to his military service. The Veteran's claims folder must be made available to the examiner.

The Veteran's service-connected social anxiety disorder and unspecified depressive disorder are currently evaluated at a 50 percent rating, which is the maximum schedular evaluation available. The evidence does not support an increase to a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a Social and Industrial Survey of Z.G. to determine if he was permanently incapable of self-support prior to attaining the age of 18.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA orthopedic examination and consideration of the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further medical evaluation and consideration of his PTSD symptoms, including whether they are solely attributable to service-connected PTSD or another disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's anxiety disorder did not have its clinical onset in service, a psychosis was not exhibited within the first post-service year, and is not otherwise related to active duty or to a service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be as likely as not related to his active service, including in-service noise exposure. The other issues are addressed but the decision summary does not specify outcomes for gout, eye disability, diabetes mellitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The May 1998 rating decision denied service connection for a nervous condition, which the Veteran contends was improperly adjudicated as such. The Board finds no clear and unmistakable error in this decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU due to his hip disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection, as there was no medical nexus between the current psychiatric disorders and service. For TDIU, the combined rating from service-connected conditions (right and left hip disabilities) did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU, and the Veteran's education and work history were considered in determining that he could still engage in substantially gainful employment.