Anxiety decisions — 2017

The Board finds that the May 2014 discontinuation of the Veteran's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment benefits was improper due to lack of proper review and participation in the program.

The Board finds that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and thus is not entitled to presumptive service connection for any conditions. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that any of his claimed disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder did not result in total occupational and social impairment at any time during the period on appeal, thus his claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The appeal is currently in remand status.

The Board finds that there is no evidence of a chronic psychiatric condition during service, and the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders are not shown to be related to his military service. The Board also cannot establish service connection for any acquired psychiatric disorder as superimposed upon a personality disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not cause him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, as his limitations are due to non-service connected disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to his service, but acknowledges that he experienced symptoms during and after his duty on funeral detail. The decision is mixed as some issues are granted while others are denied.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder not otherwise specified has been evaluated as 30 percent disabling prior to September 11, 2014 and 70 percent thereafter. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for the period prior to September 11, 2014 or a higher rating thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of current diagnoses or a link between any claimed conditions and active military service.,No new effective date has been granted as no earlier effective date claim was filed.

The Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, diagnosed as social anxiety and depression, are found to have been aggravated by his active service. As a result, the Board has determined that he is entitled to service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with anxiety disorder was rated at 30 percent prior to December 5, 2014. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating as they did not meet the criteria for a disability rating higher than 30 percent.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all issues related to service connection.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has not manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, thus the claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's anxiety disorder, NOS is causally or etiologically due to service. Bilateral pes planus was noted on her enlistment examination and did not increase in disability during service.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression and anxiety is found to have incepted or been aggravated by her active service, and the Board grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, depression and anxiety, is secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. As a result, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, related to his military service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion and obtaining relevant VA treatment records.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with PTSD symptoms has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent disability rating over the entire appeals period.