Anxiety decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal involves the evaluation of PTSD and TDIU. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA disability benefits records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to inadequate examination findings and the need to obtain additional treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and clarification of certain medical opinions.

The Veteran's Major Depressive Disorder is found to be related to his active military service, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as anxiety disorder and PTSD, has been found to be severe enough to warrant a 70% disability rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder pre-existed his active naval service and was not aggravated by it, thus denying service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board denied an extraschedular rating for the Veteran's anxiety disorder and found that he is not entitled to a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's anxiety disorder, sleep apnea, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and anxiety disorder are being remanded for additional development to determine if they are related to his military service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is granted prior to March 26, 2007. However, his duodenal ulcer disease remains rated at 20 percent and no higher.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder, with mixed anxiety and depression, has been found to warrant a higher initial disability rating of 70 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received and a need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD with anxiety and depression is related to his military service, placing the evidence in equipoise and granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting medical evidence and a need for additional examinations.

The Board has ordered additional development to address the appellant's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and PTSD. The VA examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether any current psychiatric disability clearly and unmistakably pre-existed service and was not aggravated by active service beyond the normal progression of the disease, as well as whether at any point since April 2008, it is at least as likely as not that the appellant has had depression, anxiety disorder, dysthymia, and an adjustment disorder, and whether such disability is due to or the result of the appellant's active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, and schizoaffective disorder, had its onset during a period of active duty or ACDUTRA. As such, service connection is granted.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with secondary depressive disorder has been found to result in occupational and social impairment that more nearly approximates deficiencies in most areas, including work, social relations, and mood. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected Major Depressive Disorder with Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder since July 31, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for a scar of the right breast mass, status post gynecomastia removal, was withdrawn prior to the Board's decision. The remaining claims for service connection for PTSD and an umbilical hernia are remanded for further development.