Anxiety decisions — 2017

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including generalized anxiety disorder, major depression, and PTSD, is now reopened for consideration.,Bilateral hearing loss is not service connected due to lack of evidence showing a current disability within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA mental health examination to determine if the Veteran has any diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and anxiety/depression, that are related to service. The AOJ should also obtain all relevant VA and private clinical documentation concerning the Veteran's treatment of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, chronic fatigue syndrome, or any other condition listed in his claims. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety, are not related to his military service. The low back disability was also denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including panic disorder with agoraphobia (claimed as depression and anxiety).

The Board finds that the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder NOS which is attributable to service. Therefore, the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records. The claims of service connection for a psychiatric disability (including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and mood disorder) and a heart disability as secondary to a psychiatric disability are in dispute.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD with anxiety disorder warrants a disability rating of 50 percent, effective from the date of the April 2016 remand order by the Court.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining clarification on his diagnoses and opinions regarding service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding no medical relationship between his current psychiatric conditions and either his service or his service-connected adductors myositis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and provide her with a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for an updated VA examination and opinion to assess the current severity of the Veteran's mood disorder, including sleep disturbance, anxiety, and depression. The issue of entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) is also inextricably intertwined with the claim for an initial compensable rating for mood disorder, so it must be deferred until the mood disorder issue is resolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor is verified, and he should be afforded a VA examination to determine if he currently has an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, related to this verified stressor. If granted, service connection for PTSD will be established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and alcohol abuse, are related to his service in Vietnam. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his active military service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities are related to his active service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and its relationship to his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder and panic disorder, are related to his active military service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and related conditions are considered totally incapacitating, with the probability of permanent improvement under treatment being remote.