Anxiety decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is granted as it was incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, including adjustment disorder with mild anxiety and PTSD, is currently rated at 30 percent. This rating reflects the severity of his symptoms which include difficulty sleeping, nightmares, estrangement, and depression.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety, will be remanded as it requires further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his in-service stressors and grants service connection for this condition. However, there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between any psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and verification of service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his dysthymic disorder with anxiety and depressive disorder, do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his educational and occupational background. However, as of April 6, 2012, no single service-connected disability renders him unemployable.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to address the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety, are not related to his active duty service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, a psychiatric disability (including depressive disorder and anxiety), and ischemic heart disease as these conditions are not shown to be related to his active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities and their relationship to service-connected IBS.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability was not found to be incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied.,Service-connected generalized anxiety disorder has been rated at 70 percent effective May 31, 2007.

The Board denied service connection for dysthymic disorder with anxiety features, also claimed as anxiety and depression, to include as secondary to service-connected adenocarcinoma of prostate status post radical prostatectomy.,The Board also denied service connection for depression and anxiety disorder, to include as secondary to a renal cancer tumor.

The Board has granted service connection for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his military service. The other claims for PTSD and GAD were denied as there was no evidence of a link between these conditions and the Veteran's service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is proximately due to his service-connected low back disability. The Board finds that the evidence is in relative balance for and against this claim, granting service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, hydrophobia, anxiety, and depression was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD. The other conditions are not considered to be related to service.

The Veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric disorder, and his claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of any current bilateral foot disability, as well as his acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran has not been afforded a VA examination to address these issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU have been denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected IPH or establishes service connection for any of the other conditions he seeks.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and his currently-diagnosed anxiety disorder did not begin during, or for several years after, his active duty service. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is not established.