Anxiety decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a verified in-service stressor for PTSD and his current acquired psychiatric disorder, other than anxiety disorder and to include depression, is not service connected.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD and his anxiety disorder was not incurred in or caused by active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's current psychiatric disability, including depression, mood disorder, and anxiety with sleep disorder, is found to be related to service. However, the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD have not been met.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination under DSM-IV criteria to assess his service-connected GAD and its impact on employment. The TDIU claim will also be considered in conjunction with the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically anxiety disorder NOS and depression, is denied as there was no evidence of a current disability during the period on appeal that manifested during or was causally related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus was denied. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy related to diabetes or service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions and service connection.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability to include anxiety reaction and depression is granted as secondary to service-connected neck and back disabilities. The appeals for increased ratings on the low back, cervical spine, and pain disorder are dismissed.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for anxiety and depression, which he claims had onset in service. The case is being remanded to obtain additional records and schedule the Veteran for a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn prior to the Board's decision. The Veteran is granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, with depression being found more likely related to his military service.

The Board has denied all service connection claims, finding no current disability or causal link to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, anxiety and depression, requires additional development due to a lack of medical opinion regarding the etiology of his diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not service-connected, and the Board finds that his TBI residuals do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than anxiety and mood disorders, to include PTSD, polysubstance abuse, and/or bipolar disorders, to also include as secondary to service-connected lumbar spine disability, and an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for a lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, are related to his military service. The claim is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service and grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a skin condition due to exposure to herbicides are being remanded for further development.