Anxiety decisions — 2016

The Board has granted service connection for left wrist fracture residuals, Peyronie's Disease, and urinary incontinence as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The claim of entitlement to service connection for depression was reopened due to new evidence received since the last final denial.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder results in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depressive disorder with anxiety, are found to be related to an in-service personal assault. The left knee disorder is also service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, associated with atrial fibrillation with ventricular tachycardia, status post AICD implantation is dismissed as it lacks legal merit.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating and TDIU prior to April 22, 2015 was granted. From that date forward, he is assigned a 70 percent disability rating for his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder with accompanying phobic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease and acquired psychiatric disorder were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claim for residuals of spinal meningitis was reopened, but denied as new evidence did not establish a diagnosis in service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder, are found to be related to his combat experiences in Vietnam. The Board grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depressive disorder not otherwise specified more nearly approximates occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combined rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU.

The case is REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development and readjudication. The Veteran needs a VA psychiatric examination to determine if he has PTSD, its etiology, and whether any other acquired psychiatric disorder had its onset during service or is otherwise related to service.

The Board found that the September 18, 1974 rating decision denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The denial of service connection for anxiety reaction with depressive features was based on a direct basis, while the denial of service connection for immature personality disorder was due to it being considered a constitutional or developmental abnormality.

The Veteran's anxiety and depressive disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70 percent disability rating since February 25, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service and exposure to nuclear weapons in a missile silo.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing on his claims of increased rating for anxiety disorder and service connection for bilateral lower extremity neurological disability.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder but found insufficient evidence to establish service connection for anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 100% since March 22, 2008. The effective date for this rating remains unchanged.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including issuance of a SOC on the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss and provision of an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder(s) on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including anxiety and depression, was granted. The Board found that the Veteran had an anxiety disorder during his military service which was exacerbated by events of service.

The Veteran's claim for reentrance into an independent living services program, including the purchase of a massage chair, desktop computer, desk, and recumbent exercise bicycle was denied as his conditions did not warrant such benefits.