Anxiety decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and examination to address the nature and etiology of his claimed psychiatric disorders, low blood pressure, and headaches.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims, including obtaining SSA records and VA examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Depression were denied as there is no credible evidence of a current disability or a link to military service.

The Veteran was rendered unable to maintain substantially gainful employment from January 16, 2001, to March 8, 2004, due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for substitution and accrued benefits purposes during this period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, is included in the appeal due to evidence of other psychiatric diagnoses in the record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, was denied as there is no evidence of a psychosis/mental illness within two years after discharge from active duty. The claim for erectile dysfunction was also denied due to lack of supporting evidence.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has been rated at 50 percent disabling since January 6, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of right parotidectomy and anxiety disorder are not related to his service, including exposure to ionizing radiation. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's wife has multiple disabling conditions that require the aid and attendance of another person, qualifying him for SMC benefits. The claims for service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome, hypertension as secondary to PTSD, and coronary artery disease (CAD) as secondary to PTSD are denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining employment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his current adjustment disorder severity. The case will be returned to the AOJ after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the inadequacy of the January 2015 examination, which did not address other psychiatric diagnoses and did not provide an adequate rationale for its conclusion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA treatment records, SSA records, and a VA examination.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has been rated at 50 percent since March 9, 2005. The Board granted a higher rating from the currently assigned 30 percent to 50 percent for this condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, is etiologically related to his active service in Korea. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's back disability is determined to be related to his military service and the claim for service connection will be granted. The Veteran also has a current rating of anxiety disorder, currently evaluated as 50 percent disabling, and a right knee disorder rated as noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying the Veteran's claimed stressors. A VA examination is also required to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders present during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lymphatic disorder and anxiety disorder as there is no competent medical evidence showing a current diagnosed chronic disorder involving his lymphatic system.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has been rated at 30 percent since November 14, 2008. The Board finds that the disability more nearly approximates occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's alcoholism and drug addiction are deemed to be the result of his own willful misconduct, resulting in a denial of service connection for these conditions.