Anxiety decisions — 2016

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypoparathyroidism and an acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as her claim for a compensable rating for service-connected deviated nasal septum.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, as secondary to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claimed depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and sleep disorder are not service-connected as they are considered manifestations of his already service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, was denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD and concluded that any depression is not related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inconsistencies in diagnoses and need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include personality disorder, is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his current diagnoses are related to active service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for hypertension was withdrawn. The effective date of the increased rating for hypertension is set at December 4, 2009.

The Veteran's anxiety neurosis has been rated at 70 percent since the initial rating decision. The Board found that he is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disability, granting TDIU. However, the claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent remains denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability was found to be aggravated by service, and he is now granted service connection for this condition. The issue of increased rating for lumbar degenerative disease remains pending. Service connection for PTSD is also pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to her in-service stressor and grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than MDD, specifically PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and for further examination of the Veteran's psychiatric condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, related to service and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disabilities, including depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding in-service stressors. The VA will verify if the Veteran experienced mortar or rocket attacks during his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for a headache disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety.,The decision is based on the reopening of the claim due to new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since December 31, 2008, and the Board found that this rating adequately reflects his current level of disability.

The Veteran's unspecified bipolar disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder were found to have their onset during service, warranting service connection. The claim for PTSD was denied as there is no corroborated in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing records and incomplete information, including service treatment records, VCAA notice response, VA examination report, and private medical records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is now pending with the Baltimore RO.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder were denied. The claim for sleep apnea was not addressed as it is a separate issue.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder and PTSD have been manifested by chronic sleep impairment, nightmares, and hypervigilance. These symptoms suggest no more than occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for a back disability, an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, and bilateral eye disabilities. The evidence received since the February 1990 rating decision is sufficient to reopen these claims.