Anxiety decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for an Aid and Attendance examination to assess his need for regular aid and assistance due to his service-connected psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, PTSD, and anxiety.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an anxiety disorder resulting in loss of memory and concentration, shortness of breath, and sleep impairment has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran's claimed symptoms are attributable to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and an increased rating for anxiety disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for refractive error is dismissed as he has withdrawn his request for this matter.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed, was manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to psychiatric symptomatology from October 20, 2006 to December 26, 2012. A 70 percent rating is warranted for this period.

The Veteran's PTSD, now diagnosed as adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, is currently rated at 30 percent disabling. The symptoms have not caused occupational or social impairment that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration disability benefits records. The Veteran is also given an opportunity to report for a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric disability etiologically related to service or his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, are related to his service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to address whether the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, left eye disability, and TDIU claim are related to his service. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether these conditions were aggravated by his ACDUTRA service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and increased the rating for anxiety disorder with PTSD to 70 percent. The Veteran's claims for other conditions remain pending.

The Veteran's death was attributed to an intracranial hemorrhage, but there is no evidence linking his service-connected conditions to the cause of death. The appellant did not provide new and material evidence to reopen her claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and is granting it.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, other than PTSD (anxiety and depression) was granted. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for PTSD was not perfected due to the Veteran's failure to respond to the statement of the case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's GAD prior to June 22, 2011 resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD/anxiety disorder was rated at 70 percent from October 3, 1985 to August 1, 1999.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression was initially granted, but the initial rating of 10 percent has been maintained prior to April 9, 2013. Since then, a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted, and the Board finds that there is at least as likely as not a medical relationship between his current diagnosis of adjustment disorder mixed with anxiety and depression and his military service. ,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (adjustment disorder mixed with anxiety and depression) is also granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. Therefore, service connection for a psychiatric disorder is denied.