Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is reopened due to new and material evidence. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's depressive and anxiety disorders are found to be caused by his service-connected knee disabilities, leading to the grant of secondary service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information about the nature and etiology of any PTSD, as well as other acquired psychiatric disorders. The Veteran needs a psychiatric examination to determine these details.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to August 25, 2015 for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder is being remanded. The issue of entitlement to a higher initial disability rating for his service-connected psychiatric conditions is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues include reopening service connection for psychiatric disorders other than adjustment disorder with anxiety, determining current severity of adjustment disorder with anxiety, and evaluating entitlement to TDIU based on adjustment disorder with anxiety.

The Veteran received emergency medical treatment for a panic attack at Southwest General Hospital on January 1, 2015. The Board found that the treatment was necessary due to the emergent nature of his symptoms and that an attempt to use VA facilities beforehand would not have been considered reasonable by a prudent layperson. Therefore, payment or reimbursement for the medical expenses incurred is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for additional information from SSA.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any current psychiatric disability is related to service. The Veteran's reported stressors are not considered combat-related.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder is granted. The Veteran's right knee disability remains rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include anxiety reaction with hysterical component. The claim for service connection for asbestosis is denied due to lack of a current diagnosis or treatment records. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The cases are now remanded for further development, including VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting diagnoses and need for a new examination using DSM-5 criteria. The Veteran's service in Vietnam is recognized as potentially relevant, but no specific exposure basis (e.g., burn pit, Agent Orange) is mentioned.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), IBS, and TDIU are all granted. The rating for IBS is increased to 30 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% disability rating since October 2014.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression, anxiety disorder, and affective psychosis NOS, is being reviewed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for anxiety disorder with primary insomnia and remanded the claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran appealed the initial rating decision, but his appeal was not successful. The case is being remanded again due to discrepancies in employment and income information.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for malaria is denied, and his claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for anxiety disorder (previously PTSD) is remanded. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to the need for VA examinations and additional records.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and depression. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the RO due to incomplete service treatment records and need further examination.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder, with depressive features and panic disorder, is granted a 50 percent evaluation for the period of October 11, 2006 through December 6, 2015.