Anxiety decisions — 2016

The Board granted an earlier effective date of September 27, 1995 for the award of service connection for PTSD based on new evidence confirming a verified in-service stressor. The Veteran's claim was reopened due to this new information.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for entitlement to nonservice-connected pension benefits as they are not productive of total disability and he is not permanently and totally disabled due to nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than anxiety disorder, to include PTSD. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD under DSM-IV or DSM-V.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development, including obtaining additional records and medical opinions to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has been rated at 50 percent since November 13, 2007 to April 9, 2012. The Board finds that the severity of his symptoms more nearly approximates occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, were not related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder, headache, and acquired psychiatric conditions are not related to his military service.,The loss of sense of smell is also not considered service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case for issuance of an SOC and further development, including review of the issues related to service connection. The claim for the left leg radiculopathy will be deferred until the intertwined issues are resolved or prepared for appellate consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, including Schizoaffective Disorder and Schizophrenia, was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected thoracolumbar strain.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder with generalized anxiety disorder was productive of occupational and social impairment, resulting in a 70 percent rating from September 22, 2007 to March 3, 2009.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and panic attacks, is related to his service. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for a VA examination and to obtain outstanding medical records.

Service connection for a low back disorder is denied as the evidence does not establish that it was incurred in or aggravated by service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically anxiety disorder, is granted based on continuity of symptomatology since service separation.

The Board is remanding the case to attempt to obtain the Veteran's service personnel records, which may provide information about his early discharge from military service and potentially support his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, left ear hearing loss, and prostate cancer. The acquired psychiatric disability is attributed to service, left ear hearing loss is as likely as not related to service exposure, and prostate cancer is linked to in-service firefighting duties.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of medical records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for anxiety and depression, finding new and material evidence. The Board also granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran met all criteria including a diagnosis of PTSD, a link to his Gulf War service, and credible supporting evidence of the in-service stressor.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes symptoms of memory loss and speech impairment, is service-connected as secondary to his insomnia. The VA has granted a disability rating of 50 percent for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's cannabis use disorder and unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, other than PTSD, are not service-connected due to lack of in-service incurrence or aggravation and no evidence of continuity of symptomatology.