Anxiety decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete record. The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, anxiety and depression, and TDIU are inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's appeal for additional vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits to support gunsmith training has been denied as the evidence does not show that further independent training is necessary for him to obtain or maintain entry level employment in his chosen area.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a retrospective medical opinion to assess whether the Veteran suffered from an acquired psychiatric disorder as a result of his service and whether it caused or contributed substantially to his death.

The Board granted a disability rating of 70 percent for the acquired psychiatric disability, effective from April 24, 2012. The Veteran's spasmodic torticollis was rated as noncompensable. TDIU was also granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records, as well as potential adjustment of his disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, resulting in a grant of SMC based on this need.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for a psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD. A new VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran has PTSD attributable to his confirmed in-service stressor of experiencing fires while aboard the USS Providence.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability (however diagnosed) is not related to his active service and denies the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded this case for further development, including obtaining additional VA and private treatment records, scheduling a new VA psychiatric examination, and considering the Veteran's service-connected migraines in determining whether his acquired psychiatric disorders are related to or aggravated by them.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety and depression, was reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The Board finds that this evidence reasonably raises the possibility that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder began in service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety, has been reopened. The VA examiners have provided opinions linking the current diagnoses to his military service, specifically his combat experiences in Vietnam. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a left ear disability were denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of these conditions, and there is no evidence linking them to his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD and granted a rating in excess of 50 percent for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression. Service connection was denied for ED, GERD, OSA, a GI disorder, and a sleep disorder (other than OSA). The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, was denied as there is no current evidence of a diagnosed disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claims of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as PTSD and alcoholism, is related to his active duty service. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection are met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's mood disorder with depressive features, to include anxiety disorder, warrants a rating of 50 percent effective February 4, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder with anxiety, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder. The Veteran's account of in-service stressors and symptomatology is credible and highly probative. Service connection is granted based on the presumption of soundness.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, providing VCAA notice regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and scheduling a VA psychiatric evaluation.