Anxiety decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for anxiety disorder was dismissed as no substantive appeal was filed within the required time frame.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression with anxiety, vertigo, GERD, and hypertension. The decision also found that referral for extraschedular consideration of bilateral hearing loss was not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current anxiety disorder is causally related to service, and his current major depressive disorder (MDD) at least as likely as not resulted from his anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of PTSD and concluded that his anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and finds that his anxiety disorder is less likely than not caused by his military service.

The Veteran's death was not due to his own willful misconduct and he did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.,VA treatment from October to December 1996 is not considered the proximate cause of the Veteran's death, as ARDS was caused by a community-acquired infection rather than VA treatment.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the March 2014 VA examination, and an addendum opinion is needed to address whether any current mental disorder clearly and unmistakably pre-existed military service or was aggravated by service.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical opinions and to ensure that all relevant evidence has been considered in connection with the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a scheduling issue for his videoconference hearing. The specific issues of increased rating for anxiety disorder and initial rating for left rotator cuff tear are pending.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple claims regarding various disabilities, including knee issues, psychiatric disorders, sleep apnea, allergies, back pain, sciatica, and hearing loss. The case is being remanded for a live hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected PTSD with anxiety and depressive disorders is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), based on new and material evidence. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent from April 27, 2006, reflecting considerable occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were all denied. The claim for the psychiatric disability was granted as it met the criteria of direct service connection due to in-service noise exposure. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were both denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for an increased disability rating and TDIU due to service-connected anxiety disorder are being remanded as there are outstanding records that need to be obtained, including VA treatment records from the Fayetteville VAMC. Additionally, a new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of his anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and requesting Social Security Administration (SSA) disability decision and related records. The Veteran will also undergo a VA psychiatric examination to determine the current nature of her psychiatric disorders and their relation, if any, to her service-connected fibromyalgia.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining in-service treatment records and verifying stressors. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, and will reconsider them after obtaining additional STRs.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, other than PTSD, and finds that there is sufficient evidence to support this diagnosis. The Veteran's current diagnoses of anxiety disorder with associated depressive disorder are related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diverticulosis, hypertension, a psychiatric disorder, GERD, and H. Pylori as there is no evidence of their onset or continuity in service.