Anxiety decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was aggravated by her second period of active duty service. The cervical spine/neck disorder and headaches were not incurred or aggravated during service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as bipolar and anxiety disorder and claimed as anxiety and PTSD, is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's index finger of left hand, diagnosed as trigger finger, may be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities has not been found.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left ear hearing loss, a back disorder, bilateral upper and lower extremity numbness, chronic migraines, anxiety and depressive disorders, and bilateral hip and knee disorders. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder has been granted a 70 percent rating, effective from March 19, 2011.,His right upper extremity radiculopathy and left upper extremity radiculopathy have both been granted initial ratings of 40 percent and 30 percent respectively.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is being remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and finds no evidence of such disorders during service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for generalized anxiety disorder and PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining deck logs from the USS Chipola and verifying in-service stressors. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records, in-service psychiatric records, and SSA records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being reviewed.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder, depression, and PTSD. The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and anxiety disorder are related to his active service, specifically his combat experience in Korea. As such, the Veteran's claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for anxiety disorder with depressive disorder was denied as there is no evidence of a pending claim prior to March 7, 2012. The effective date assigned is March 7, 2012.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, Caisson's disease, diabetes mellitus secondary to Caisson's disease, or ear disorder. The diagnoses are attributed to his childhood experiences and personality structure rather than service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied because she did not attend a VA examination scheduled in accordance with her increased rating claim without good cause.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sinusitis, a right knee disability, and a back disability. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a new VA examination and considering the Veteran's contention that his mental health deteriorated after he had to jump into the water to rescue a friend who had fallen overboard.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, as the appellant's current condition is not related to any injury or disease incurred in or aggravated during her periods of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA. The claim was also denied for reopening claims for disorders of the thoracolumbar spine and bilateral shoulder disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including his right eye blindness and mental health disorders, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on these disabilities.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, effective July 19, 2012. The Board found the symptoms most nearly approximated a 50% disability rating.