Anxiety decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral inguinal herniography residuals did not meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating prior to March 19, 2009. From March 19, 2009, there is no legal entitlement to a compensable rating based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's bilateral inguinal herniography residuals have not required at least one month of convalescence or resulted in severe postoperative residuals as per VA regulations.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was granted service connection effective September 2010, with a 30 percent rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder and dysthymic disorder, did not manifest in service or for years thereafter and is not otherwise related to his military service. The Board also found that the current psychiatric disability is not caused or aggravated by any service-connected disability, specifically the residuals of TBI manifested by headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's other specified trauma related disorder is related to service, but his neurocognitive disorder and any other psychiatric or neuropsychiatric disorders are not related to service.

The Board found no credible evidence of a claimed event, injury, or disease during service upon which service connection can be established for the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the issues of service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and TBI. The claims will be reviewed after this additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder and adjustment disorder, due to a hearing request and undelivered correspondence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and anxiety disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder of anxiety disorder, NOS, finding that the evidence is in equipoise on whether it is related to service. The claim was reopened due to new and material evidence received since the November 2003 rating decision.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an updated VA examination to determine the extent and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder(s).

The Veteran's service-connected chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood resulted in occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent rating from October 1, 2004 to June 1, 2009.,The Veteran was found unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities since September 2004.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's current anxiety disorder is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing. The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and hypertension remain under consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood and Anxiety.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an additional acquired psychiatric condition other than depression and anxiety, as well as his heart condition, have been denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected psychiatric disability was denied. The Board also found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to June 10, 2016.

The Veteran's asthma has been rated at 60 percent since December 3, 2015. The issue of a higher rating for his psychiatric disorder remains pending and will be remanded to the AOJ.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS with depressive symptoms resulted in occupational impairment that precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation as of March 27, 2010. The Board granted an initial rating of 70 percent for the disability effective May 10, 2013 and also granted entitlement to TDIU as of May 10, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing his appeals for service connection on all issues.