Anxiety decisions — 2016

The VA granted a 70% rating for the Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder effective April 22, 2009. The appeal is limited to whether a higher rating prior to that date was warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric, foot, knee, and thyroid disabilities are not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to her active duty.

The Board has found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder and mood disorder with depression, are related to his service-connected disabilities, specifically his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and prostate cancer. Therefore, the claim for secondary service connection is granted.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with secondary alcohol abuse, PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder was granted a 70 percent evaluation from August 12, 2010 to May 19, 2015. The right and left knee bursitis claims were denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not that his current diagnosis of GAD is due to his service-connected facial scar.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder and panic disorder with agoraphobia, is not related to his period of service. The evidence did not show any signs or complaints of a psychiatric disability during his military service, and none of the medical providers who treated him post-service provided an etiological connection between his current disorders and his time in service.

The Board finds that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety disorder, began during service due to his inability to perform parachute jumps as a result of physical ailments in service. The diagnosis is considered direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verification of a stressor and an examination to determine if PTSD is related to service.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety. The Veteran's previous claims were denied because his psychiatric disorders did not start in service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, residuals of tubal ligation, right foot disorder, and glaucoma. The Board found that her current psychiatric symptoms are not related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify the Veteran's reported stressors and service with the 7th Infantry Division, as well as to determine if there are any additional records that could corroborate his claims.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 50 percent from February 9, 2011 to June 23, 2015, and 100 percent thereafter. The rating decision granted service connection for the condition and assigned initial ratings based on the severity of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a failure to obtain relevant medical records. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is now pending again.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his diagnosed conditions and whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of in-service events or conditions that could be linked to his current disabilities. His hearing loss is not compensable, and he does not have a diagnosed psychiatric disorder, degenerative joint disease, radiculopathy, or peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a polysubstance abuse disorder. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are not related to his military service, and his substance use is considered voluntary.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety disorder NOS, and depression NOS, resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. The VA examiner found the Veteran had a GAF score of 50, which corresponds to the criteria for a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 9411.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability, primarily anxiety, depression, and major depressive disorder with psychotic features, is not related to service or any incident of service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that it was incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to a previous decision denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again with new evidence and examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for his anxiety disorder with PTSD was denied as the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment warranting a rating in excess of 10 percent.