Anxiety decisions — 2017

The Board finds that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder, are related to his military service. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions were aggravated by service.

The Board found that the current acquired psychiatric disorders (Depressive Disorder and Anxiety Disorder) are not related to active duty service, thus denying the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 100 percent for anxiety disorder, and the claim of entitlement to TDIU is moot due to the grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is related to her military service, and thus grants service connection for a low back disability.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including persistent depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. The Veteran's tinea versicolor was rated at a 10 percent disability rating effective November 1, 2010.

The Veteran's current diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including anxiety and schizophrenia, are found to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety. The claims for service connection for ulcerative colitis and colon cancer are also denied as there is no evidence of their onset during service or otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was withdrawn. The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence supported these claims.

The Board found no evidence of PTSD, and the Veteran's schizophrenia and anxiety were not shown to be related to service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and providing a new VA opinion to address the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's current primary diagnosis is for alcohol abuse and dependence, and no other diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder had its onset during service or is otherwise medically related to an in-service injury, disease or event, specifically including alleged involuntary LSD exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and TDIU were granted, while the claim for a compensable disability rating for PTSD prior to December 1, 2013 was denied. The Veteran also received a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's anxiety and depression are found to be at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by her service-connected polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). As a result, the Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and an anxiety disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to service or a service-connected disability, and therefore denied his claim for service connection. The increased rating claims for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and muscle tension headaches have also been denied.

The Veteran's eye conditions, including blepharitis and chalazions, are not related to service or any service-connected disability. Headaches have been determined to be secondary to PTSD, while anxiety is associated with the Veteran's PTSD.,PTSD has resulted in a 30 percent rating prior to May 23, 2016, and a higher than 70 percent rating thereafter.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a Travel Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 5237, and denied an increased rating greater than 10 percent.

The Board has granted a 50 percent disability rating for migraines from January 15, 2015. The claim for service connection for anxiety reaction was reopened and the Veteran is now service connected for an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to his cardiovascular disability.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed generalized anxiety disorder is related to his in-service treatment for anxiety and adjustment disorders, and the Board finds that this condition is secondary to service.

The Veteran's headaches are found to be related to service, and she is granted service connection.,While the Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with agoraphobia has been shown to have worsened since service separation, a higher rating of 70% or above is not warranted due to lack of occupational and social impairment.