Anxiety decisions — 2017

The Veteran's anxiety disorder associated with tinnitus is rated at 50 percent for the period May 13, 2015 forward. The Board denied a higher rating and also found that he did not meet criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including psychotic disorder, depression NOS and anxiety NOS, is found to be proximately due to his service-connected PTSD. Therefore, the claim for secondary service connection is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's chronic self-catheterization from December 2007 until January 2012, resulting from VA treatment for voiding obstruction, caused additional disability including cystitis, renal insufficiency, depression and anxiety. The failure to timely diagnose and treat a large bladder diverticulum as the source of his voiding obstruction was found to be in breach of the standard of care.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder. The VA examiner's opinion was considered more probative than the private treatment records' diagnoses due to lack of specific Criterion A stressor for PTSD and insufficient evidence linking symptoms to military service or tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to address his claims for service connection for PTSD and anxiety disorder, as well as tremors potentially related to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder was reopened and granted. Service connection was also granted for Parkinson's disease, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder.,Service connection for Parkinson's disease was denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an anxiety disorder (other than PTSD) and depression. The new evidence received since the last final denial shows a VA clinician noted in March 2017 that the Veteran had anxiety most of his life, that he reported anxiety about his own death after some friends passed away, and a generalized anxiety disorder was diagnosed.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions and issues, including service connection for various disorders. The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining mental health treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD and an adjustment disorder with anxiety, resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. However, there was no evidence of reduced reliability and productivity or deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development related to her discharge classification and service connection claims.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no diagnosis of PTSD and the current anxiety disorder is not related to service. The Veteran's recurrent dermatitis is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to September 25, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, and left leg disability have been reopened. However, the Board found that there is no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the request for withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and issues related to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and PTSD. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical records from the South Bend Vet Center, provide VCAA notice regarding personal assault claims, seek alternative sources of evidence, schedule a VA examination, and readjudicate the claim.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the representation withdrawing the appeal before a decision was made.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been rated appropriately, with the exception of his persistent adjustment disorder which has resulted in a TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder prior to July 9, 2016, warrants a disability rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety with polysubstance abuse, is being remanded due to the need to verify a claimed stressor and obtain additional medical opinions.