Anxiety decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU throughout the entire period on appeal.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or an acquired psychiatric disorder, and there is no causal link between his service and these conditions. The preponderance of evidence is against the claim.

The Board found no current diagnosis of PTSD and determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability did not result from service. The claim was denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision on the remaining issues, including higher initial ratings for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorders are related to service, including her reported harassment and personal assaults in service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety and/or depressive disorders. The AOJ will obtain additional records from the San Antonio VA Medical Center, any ongoing VA treatment records since January 2013, private treatment records if identified, as well as Social Security Administration disability records. If in-service stressor events are corroborated, a VA examination will be scheduled.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is related to service and the Board finds that she has a current diagnosis of this condition. The other psychiatric disorders are not currently addressed as they were not specifically mentioned in her claims or during the hearing.

The Veteran's current left lower extremity reflex sympathetic dystrophy was manifested within one year after the date of separation from service, meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection.,VA is seeking to obtain VA treatment records pertaining to the acquired psychiatric disability and initial ratings for service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder NOS, mood disorder NOS, depressive disorder NOS, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed stressors and for a VA examination to assess his psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal involves a rating for her left wrist condition and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, including private treatment records and SSI disability benefits file. A VA examination will be scheduled to assess the severity of her left wrist condition and determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional evidence and provide the Veteran with a VA examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's anxiety disorder is found to be related to his in-service stressors, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are consistent with the criteria for a 50 percent disability rating.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for the combined rating of generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder, as well as residuals of traumatic brain injury. The separate evaluations for these conditions have been discontinued.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and an addendum opinion from the March 2012 VA examiner to address deficiencies in the examination report.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant treatment records and providing the Veteran with new VA examinations of her mental health and migraines.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and left knee disability were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board found no evidence of a current disability at the time of filing, and there was insufficient medical evidence to establish a link between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has been rated as 30 percent disabling, and the Board found that this rating adequately reflects his symptoms. The Veteran was not found to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for new VA examinations and additional development of his claims.