Anxiety decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and medical opinions to address the nature and etiology of his claimed psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran's statements and medical records support a diagnosis of PTSD related to his military service in Vietnam.

The Board found no in-service stressor corroborated by evidence, and the Veteran's personality disorder was not subject to superimposed disease or injury during service. The acquired psychiatric disorders were not causally related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his variously diagnosed psychiatric disorder is not related to service. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is denied.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which render him unemployable.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS is found to be related to his period of active military service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for gastritis and acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depression). The claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is pending, but further development is needed.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and denied his claim for service connection. The Veteran's anxiety disorder is considered to be unrelated to his military service.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma of the left kidney is found to be related to his exposure to Agent Orange during service. The Veteran's anxiety disorder is also found to be related to his service-connected renal cancer.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine if his PTSD and related conditions are service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD, had its onset during service. The residuals of shrapnel wound with tendon damage of the left ankle are manifested by marked limitation of motion, warranting a 20% rating. The damage to the internal saphenous nerve of the left lower extremity is manifested by severe to complete paralysis, warranting a 10% rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records from May 2006 to April 2010 and associating them with the claims file.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including depression and anxiety, are related to his service. The presumption of soundness applies due to a pre-existing condition at entry into service, but the evidence does not clearly and unmistakably show that this condition was aggravated during service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional VA medical records. The issue remains whether he should receive an increased evaluation for his service-connected anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified, with a history of alcohol and anxiolytic dependence.

The Veteran's appeal was denied. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and tinnitus were addressed. The reduction in the rating for hearing loss from 50% to 20% was found to be proper.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 4, 2009 for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and anxiety) is granted. The effective date will be set as the day following her service separation on September 30, 2004.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and for further development, including a psychiatric opinion regarding service connection.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is due to his in-service military stressors and the Board finds that service connection for a psychiatric disorder to include PTSD is warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his acquired psychiatric disorders.