Anxiety decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disorders, including whether they pre-existed service entrance, and his diverticulitis.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, characterized as a specific phobia of enclosed places with anxiety disorder, resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity from January 15, 2008 to September 16, 2015.,For the period after September 16, 2015, the Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated at a compensable level of 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's diagnoses and their relationship to service. The Veteran will be afforded a new VA examination to assess his psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected MDD warrants a 70 percent rating, effective January 9, 2009. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of the evidence received since the July 2014 supplemental statement of the case. The issues include entitlement to increased ratings for various disabilities, as well as service connection for a neurological disorder.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his other psychiatric conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, NOS, and major depressive disorder with a history of PTSD are rated at 70 percent disabling. The Board finds that the Veteran meets the criteria for TDIU due to her service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling for each extremity. The appeal regarding the increased evaluations for generalized anxiety disorder, left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and carpal tunnel syndrome has been resolved.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for anxiety and depressive disorder has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and for a higher rating for his anxiety disorder. The Veteran was not found to have current diagnoses of these conditions, and there is no evidence linking them to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD and Anxiety Disorder are currently rated at 30 percent, effective August 27, 2015. The case is being remanded for additional development to address the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders. The issues on appeal include service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including anxiety disorder and PTSD) and entitlement to a referral for an extraschedular evaluation for hemorrhagic and ovarian cyst.

The Board has determined that the VA examination conducted in January 2014 is inadequate for adjudicating this claim. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, are to be evaluated again with consideration of all relevant evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an anxiety disorder or depressive disorder, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, including depression and anxiety, due to head injury. The Veteran's diagnoses of depression and anxiety are considered part of his existing service-connected cognitive disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depression NOS, and anxiety disorder NOS, are found to be related to his military service. The Board grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional examinations and opinions to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a head injury, headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical examination to determine if the Veteran has any medical condition that causes his reported blackouts, and whether it is at least as likely as not this condition had onset in service or was caused by military service.