Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Veteran's PTSD disability is productive of no more than occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent evaluation from the date of service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, acquired psychiatric disorder, and traumatic brain injury was granted. The effective date of the grant is June 4, 2018.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional medical records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, dysthymic disorder, personality disorder, anxiety, and depression, is being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for borderline personality disorder was dismissed. The Board remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and alcohol abuse, are granted as service connected. The diagnoses are based on in-service personal assault.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder have been rated at 50 percent since July 27, 2010. The Board found that the symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they only meet the criteria for a 50 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin condition, tremors, and an acquired psychiatric condition including PTSD, depression, and anxiety due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The issues are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety is found to be etiologically related to service, including combat experiences. Service connection for PTSD is remanded due to unclear diagnosis.

The Veteran's systolic heart murmur was rated at 30% effective March 2, 2011. His anxiety disorder remains at the highest possible rating of 70%. The Board granted a higher rating for his heart murmur based on new evidence showing it is more severe than previously assessed.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS is currently rated at 50 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of occupational and social impairment. The TDIU claim was denied as there is no evidence that his service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided that additional records development is needed to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is related to his military service. The VA will need to obtain treatment records from Massachusetts General Hospital for the period of January 2000 through December 2000.

Service connection for MUCMI and an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder with stressor-related disorder are granted. The Veteran's symptoms include social isolation, anxious affect and mood, chronic sleep impairment, nightmares, hypervigilance, anxiety, suspiciousness, difficulty focusing, and suicidal ideation.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spondylosis and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety disorder and PTSD, have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a nexus between the current disabilities and service.,Service connection was denied for cervical spondylosis due to lack of chronicity in service or continuity of symptoms post-service. For the acquired psychiatric disorders, there was no verified in-service stressor and the Veteran's diagnoses were not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's increased rating claims for various disabilities, including cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, left knee degenerative joint disease, bilateral pes cavus with bilateral heel spurs, left foot hallux valgus, right foot hallux valgus, posterior thigh muscle (muscle group XIII), hypertension, inguinal hernia, kidney stones, and generalized anxiety disorder. The claims will be reconsidered in light of the additional evidence received since the April and May 2016 Supplemental Statements of the Case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder. The evidence did not verify the occurrence of the claimed in-service stressors, thus failing to meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased initial evaluation of his service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and psychiatric disabilities (PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety) are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for anxiety disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and gastrointestinal disorder have been granted. The claims for ear disorder (to include hearing loss) and psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened due to new and material evidence. The Board also remanded the case for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Board has determined that new evidence does not warrant reopening the claim for service connection of prostate cancer. The Veteran's right index finger disability is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds additional development needed to determine if a compensable rating should be assigned. The issue of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders (including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and sleep disorder) is remanded.