Anxiety decisions — 2017

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for TDIU on a schedular basis from November 29, 2011 due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board grants TDIU on this basis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis under DSM-IV and whether any current psychiatric disability is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including evaluating whether his anxiety and depressive disorders are related to his service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity from March 18, 2010 to September 28, 2010. From September 28, 2010 to November 4, 2010, the Veteran received treatment for her psychiatric disorder in a VA hospital. From November 4, 2010 to June 18, 2015, she was rated at 30 percent disabling due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The claim is denied as of June 18, 2015.

The Board finds that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder is reasonably shown to be related to his service-connected neuropathic pain of a scar, status post umbilical hernia repair. As such, the claim for secondary service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric condition, manifested by major depression with anxiety, is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for hypertension will be remanded as it may be related to exposure to herbicides during service in Southwest Asia. The TDIU claim will also be remanded due to the grant of service connection for a psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case for a determination on whether the Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder precludes him from securing and following gainful employment, due to his mental health impairment. The case will be returned to the AOJ after this determination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining verification of stressors and obtaining a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities.

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

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with mood disorder NOS and anxiety/panic disorder with agoraphobia resulted in total occupational and social impairment as of June 15, 2011. The effective date for the 100% disability rating is set to June 15, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues with verifying in-service stressors and obtaining VA medical records. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, must be evaluated again based on new evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder or skin condition, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a VA examination and further development of the record, as the current VA examination is inadequate due to lack of consideration of the Veteran's private diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are at least as likely as not related to his active service and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder and polysubstance abuse, is being remanded due to the need for additional development. The case will be returned to the Board if further action is required.

The Board has determined that there is no new and material evidence to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for essential hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim remains denied.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent, and his claim for TDIU has also been denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations were denied as her conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to address the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with depressive mood, anxiety, social phobia, and alcohol dependence was rated at 30 percent effective March 17, 2011.