Anxiety decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Appellant's service records and determine her claims for service connection. The VA will notify the Appellant if further action is required.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his service, and he has been granted service connection for this condition. Other conditions are also found to have a link to his service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying alleged PTSD stressors. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied as there is no evidence of three successive doses of ultraviolet light therapy treatment on April 2, 2010 and the additional disability did not result from VA carelessness, negligence, or error.

The Veteran's initial rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as an anxiety disorder, was granted at a 50 percent rating from July 3, 2009, to September 22, 2010. The Board also denied any request for a higher rating during this period.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of benefits, including due to new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD with depression and anxiety, and gastroenteritis has been withdrawn by the Veteran's representative.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a sleep study from West Valley Medical Center.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional evidence regarding the in-service stressor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's treatment at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center on November 20, 2010 was for an emergency situation where VA medical facilities were not reasonably available. As a result, payment or reimbursement is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to attend a scheduled videoconference hearing. He will be given another opportunity for such a hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as anxiety disorder and depression, is etiologically related to service. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional records and further development of the claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and PTSD. The claim for depression was denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted, and there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD. The claim for PTSD was also denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence that an in-service stressor occurred.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disability and granted service connection on a secondary basis to his service-connected hearing loss. The Veteran's current mood disturbance is at least as likely as not connected to his service-connected hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, are related to service. The examiner will need to provide opinions regarding the relationship of these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed left knee disability, and his service-connected lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities do not meet the criteria for higher ratings. The Veteran's tinea pedis is rated appropriately, as are his hearing loss and CTS. His acquired psychiatric disorder, right ankle condition, and head injury with headaches and myofascial pain syndrome do not warrant increased ratings. Finally, the Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claim can be decided, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration records. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder may or may not be caused by his service-connected nasal polyps with pansinusitis, loss of smell, tinnitus, and hypogeusia.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, personality disorder, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as of April 16, 2001 due to his service-connected disabilities making him unemployable.