Anxiety decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder does not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, but denied service connection for PTSD and personality disorder.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression and anxiety, finding new and material evidence. The Board also found that her acquired psychiatric disorder is etiologically related to her active duty military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining relevant medical records. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is pending.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since August 14, 2009. The rating is based on the symptoms and impairment described in his medical records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and anxiety disorder with major depressive disorder have rendered him unemployable since November 10, 2009. His service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU prior to May 4, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for assignment of a TDIU, and given his physical and psychological limitations, he is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated at 30 percent since October 27, 2016. His anxiety disorder has been rated at 50 percent since March 3, 2014.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under DC 6522, and his generalized anxiety disorder did not warrant a higher than 30 percent rating prior to January 28, 2016.,The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA psychiatric treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if his current psychiatric disability is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, depression, and/or anxiety, cannot be established as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis. The Board acknowledges that he served in combat but lacks supporting documentation.,The claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability and adjustment disorder have resulted in a combined rating of 60%, meeting the minimum schedular criteria for TDIU. The Board granted TDIU based on his inability to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to these disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depression, adjustment disorder, and anxiety, are not service-connected due to lack of credible supporting evidence for an in-service stressor involving military sexual trauma.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to October 18, 2011.,From October 18, 2011, the evidence of record indicates that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased evaluation of PTSD with anxiety disorder and TDIU. The Board is dismissing these issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new examination to assess the severity of his PTSD with anxiety and updated VA treatment records. The issues of increased evaluation for PTSD and TDIU are inextricably intertwined and will be readjudicated together.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, adjustment disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, did not manifest during service or within one year of discharge. The preponderance of evidence also failed to establish a connection between his current psychiatric disorders and his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his PTSD and ischemic heart disease, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board found no evidence of a non-PTSD psychiatric disorder or depression and anxiety having its onset during military service, and thus denied the Veteran's claims.