Anxiety decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of his acquired psychiatric disability and its impact on his employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders did not begin during his period of active duty for training (ADT) from September 2004 to March 2005, and therefore cannot be service connected based on this period. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is found to be incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a videoconference hearing before the Board. The issues of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, anxiety, right ear hearing loss, chondromalacia of both knees, and bilateral restless leg syndrome remain unresolved.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left wrist arthritis, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, anxiety disorder not otherwise specified, and alcohol dependence), and a higher rating for his service-connected left scaphoid fracture. The decision found no current evidence of arthritis or any other mental health condition for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a new examination to address the nature and etiology of his claimed psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current psychiatric disability, including whether any such disability is related to his active service. This includes obtaining deck logs from the U.S.S. John F. Kennedy for December 3, 1981, and arranging for a VA mental health examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's mental health disability, including anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and mood disorder, had its onset during service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder, and PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination or medical opinion regarding the relationship between his current psychiatric conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including consideration of a private medical opinion submitted after the Veteran's hearing. The appeal is not yet decided on the merits.

The Veteran's service-connected mood disorder with generalized anxiety disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment, but not to the extent that would warrant a TDIU rating prior to May 14, 2014. Effective on and after May 14, 2014, his symptoms were severe enough to meet the criteria for a 100 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a confirmed or adequate stressor to support a diagnosis for PTSD, and his currently diagnosed unspecified anxiety disorder and unspecified depressive disorder are not etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including attempting to obtain military personnel records of Seaman D.P. and readjudicating the claim.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the reopening of the claim for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder with depression.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood was found to warrant a 30 percent disability rating prior to June 22, 2011. After that date, the condition warranted a 100 percent disability rating.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his military service, and thus denies service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a left knee disability, bronchitis, or pneumonia incurred in service. The acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as well.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now considered. The Board has found new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to her death before a decision was made by the Board.