Anxiety decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA examinations and additional medical records. The claims for increased evaluation of chronic adjustment disorder with mixed features of anxiety and depression, as well as service connection for sleep apnea, will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran currently has a psychiatric disorder, whether any diagnosed conditions are related to service or other factors, and whether any current diagnoses were made in error. The appeal is being remanded due to the need for further medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to April 26, 2011 for the grant of service connection for an anxiety disorder with a secondary mood disorder. The appeal was also dismissed regarding the issue of whether there was clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the original January 1967 rating decision denying service connection.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The case has been remanded due to incomplete medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's son, A.N., was not found to be permanently incapable of self-support prior to his 18th birthday due to various psychiatric and learning disabilities. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has been rated at the highest available rating of 70 percent since May 13, 2013. The VA determined that his symptoms have caused significant impairment in work and social functioning.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including an addendum VA examination opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with anxiety/depression, is related to his service-connected disabilities. His PTSD claim cannot be granted as there is no credible supporting evidence that the claimed stressors occurred in service.

The Veteran's additional disabilities, including eosinophilia and hypersensitivity vasculitis, are caused by her use of Dilantin prescribed by VA in July 2001. The event was not reasonably foreseeable.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability was not found to warrant a rating higher than 30 percent prior to October 16, 2015 and not warranted in excess of 70 percent from that date.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Adjustment Disorder, and Anxiety. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA treatment records and to provide the Veteran with another opinion regarding his claim.

The Veteran seeks service connection for depression and related disorders. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA treatment records, schedule the Veteran for a psychiatric examination, and determine if his current psychiatric conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective November 30, 2011. The Board finds that the Veteran's PTSD warrants a higher rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from the Pittsburgh VAMC since February 2014 and providing an updated VA examination by a psychiatrist or psychologist.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, major depression, and anxiety disorder (NOS).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and depression disorders, and a disability manifested by disturbance of sleep, pre-existed service and was not aggravated by in-service injury or incident. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for schizoaffective disorder. On de novo review, the Board finds that service connection is warranted for a variety of psychiatric disabilities including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and schizoaffective disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the schedular criteria. The Board has granted a TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that the Veteran has had a current diagnosis of anxiety at any time during the pendency of this appeal, and also against a finding that an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression) was initially manifested during or is otherwise etiologically related to the Veteran's active service.