Anxiety decisions — 2017

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, clearly and unmistakably pre-existed service and was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on September 25, 2011 at Baptist Medical Center South were denied as there was no showing of a medical emergency and VA treatment facilities were feasibly available.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a higher initial rating for PTSD has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and a depressed mood is found to have its onset during service, warranting service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions, as well as further review of the evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of efforts to obtain relevant mental health records from Beaumont facility reported by the Veteran. The claim will be reconsidered after obtaining these records.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of October 6, 1993 for the grant of service connection for dysthymia with generalized anxiety disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an examination to determine whether the Veteran meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD related to his fear of hostile military or terrorist activity while on active duty. The claim will be re-adjudicated after this additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder due to a lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed in-service stressors. The diagnoses provided throughout the appeal period included PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD and GAD is rated at 70 percent, effective August 16, 2005. The TDIU claim is granted as of the same date. SMC for statutory housebound benefits is granted beginning March 23, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The left ear hearing loss disability was not found to warrant a compensable rating, while the head injury with chronic headaches claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to TBI was also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is not related to his military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a video hearing.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety disorder has been evaluated as a single condition, resulting in a 50 percent disability rating. The evidence does not support an increase to a higher rating.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain updated VA treatment records and conduct a new psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence and findings from the new examination.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with depression is currently rated at 70 percent, effective September 27, 2010. The Board finds that the symptoms do not more nearly approximate total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder and granted service connection, finding that new evidence supports a link between her in-service personal assault and her current anxiety disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD related to an in-service stressor and his acquired psychiatric disorders are not service-connected. The claim for increased rating for residuals of fourth and fifth finger fracture is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders other than PTSD are not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal of the claim of entitlement to service connection for prostate cancer has been withdrawn. The issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right hip disability and benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 are addressed in this remand.