Anxiety decisions — 2017

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent since January 12, 2010. The issue of TDIU prior to that date is moot due to the grant of a 100 percent rating for PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, stress disorder, and personality disorder as there are no current diagnoses upon which to base these claims.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder were denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition. The claim for service connection for basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the left tonsil was also denied due to lack of in-service exposure or a link to service-connected lung cancer.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for generalized anxiety neurosis with an effective date of February 7, 1980. The issue of entitlement to a higher initial rating and TDIU remains on appeal.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and has determined that new evidence supports a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as secondary to his service-connected residuals of circumcision surgery. His anxiety disorder with major depression is rated at 100% since December 1, 2006.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorders are related to his mother's death and identifying her body during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, anxiety, and sleep apnea were denied as he did not have these conditions during the appeal period. The claim for TDIU was also denied due to lack of any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a dental disability for treatment purposes has been reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to in-service exposure to radiation. The Veteran is assigned a 10% rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent disabling, which is the maximum schedular rating available.,Service connection for a generalized anxiety disorder was granted effective February 4, 2010.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, major depression, and bipolar disorder, which are found to be aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The issue of service connection for hypertension is being remanded.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for anxiety disorder NOS with insomnia, effective from June 15, 2005. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's DJD of the lumbar spine is related to his service-connected disabilities, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was not addressed due to a lack of adjudication on chronic pain syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new VA examination. The issues include service connection for various conditions, with no specific theory of service connection provided.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and verifying any claimed military stressors. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and background. The Board finds that the criteria for entitlement to TDIU are not met.

The Veteran's death was caused by suicide, which is believed to have been due to his service-connected prostatitis aggravating his depression and anxiety.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is related to his service. The right hip disability was also found to be related to his service. However, there is no evidence of a current left hip disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including verification of claimed in-service stressors and a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorder is related to his active duty service.