Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for her generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks and major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need to obtain VA treatment records from the Jacksonville VAMC.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a psychiatric disorder was denied as the earliest date of claim is November 5, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, specifically depression. The Veteran is asked to provide updated VA treatment records and undergo a VA examination to determine if his current psychiatric conditions are related to service.

The Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection as she did not have a psychiatric disorder at the time of her October 2010 claim and has not had one since.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service mastoiditis and otitis media.,Service connection was denied for anxiety disorder as there is no evidence of its onset during active service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the service connection claims and pension/TDIU claims due to incomplete records and need for VA examination opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining records from SSA and a psychiatric examination to determine if the Appellant has PTSD related to his service.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions were denied as they did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to Persian Gulf War exposure or other qualifying chronic disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral shoulder disability, arm and wrist disability, neck disability, back disability, leg disability (including varicose veins and blood clots), lung disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety, memory loss, sleep disorder), and hip disability. The Board found the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the veteran has PTSD due to in-service stressors, and therefore service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran has withdrawn all claims on appeal, including the claim for service connection for mental conditions. As a result, the Board does not have jurisdiction to review these appeals and they are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and VA medical records. The issues of service connection for psychiatric disorders (including PTSD) and sleep apnea are also being addressed.

The Veteran's initial 30 percent rating for anxiety disorder NOS is being remanded due to concerns about the reliability and credibility of his reported symptoms. A new VA examination is needed to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Board has decided that a remand is necessary to gather more information and conduct another VA examination for the Veteran's psychiatric disability claim, as there are inconsistencies in the medical records and unverified stressor events.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety, depressed mood, and alcohol abuse warrants a 50 percent rating on and after August 20, 2010. The claim for service connection for the residuals of a right total knee replacement is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with secondary anxiety and depression is currently rated at 50 percent, which reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder are being remanded due to incomplete medical records from her active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder manifested during active duty service and grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder with anxious distress features and undifferentiated/overlapping alcohol use disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to provide a VA examination addressing whether any current psychiatric disorder is related to service or service-connected prostate cancer. The AOJ should also issue a statement of the case as to TDIU.