Anxiety decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder, with PTSD and generalized anxiety features, is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder are at least as likely as not related to his service, including physical and mental abuse by a corporal during basic training. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, anxiety, depression, and a back disability.

The Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disability, which is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated during active military service.

The Board found that there is insufficient medical evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with the DSM, and thus service connection for PTSD was denied. The Veteran's anxiety disorder was also not linked to his military service.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a psychiatric examination to determine if he meets the criteria for PTSD or any other diagnosed psychiatric disorders. The AOJ will also attempt to confirm any identified stressors.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and PTSD due to new evidence showing these conditions are related to service. The Veteran's anxiety disorder is found to be etiologically related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA mental health treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits records. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to assess whether any current psychiatric disability is related to service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, the lowest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The symptoms described are consistent with a 30 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's anxiety and mood disorders are found to have been incurred in military service. The issues of service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than anxiety and mood disorders, increased evaluation for the lumbar spine disability, and entitlement to TDIU are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for a higher rating for generalized anxiety disorder and TDIU. The case is being remanded to the AOJ for further development, including clarification of employment history and possible extraschedular consideration for TDIU.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise regarding causal linkage between service-connected acne and a current acquired psychiatric pathology, to include adjustment disorder with depressive features and generalized anxiety disorder. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD that may be present, including unspecified depressive disorder, panic disorder, insomnia, alcohol abuse, anxiety disorder and mood disorder. The examiner should provide an opinion as to whether such acquired psychiatric disorder at least as likely as not had its onset in service or is causally related to an event in service.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional evidence, including a VA examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder and PTSD, is now before the Board.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood are related to his active service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depressed mood, has been rated at 30 percent since April 17, 2007. The Board found that the condition warranted a higher initial rating of 50 percent from July 31, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and conducting a VA examination. The Veteran's TDIU claim is pending, as are his claims related to bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing at the RO before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of the issues on appeal, including a new examination for his anxiety disorder and residual scars. The effective date issue will also be addressed.