Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in total impairment to occupational and social functioning as of February 1, 2011. The Board granted a 100% evaluation for PTSD based on the severity of symptoms during this period.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder is currently rated as 70 percent disabling, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an initial compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, glaucoma, and left ear hearing loss is now before the AOJ.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of evidence establishing a current disability and/or a link between the claimed conditions and service. The Board found that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim for PTSD, but did not find any material evidence relating to the left hip disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to lack of recent VA examinations and incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional development and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The AOJ must also verify any in-service stressor related to witnessing a fight that included a stabbing while serving in Bahrain in August 1991, and determine whether the Veteran's current symptoms are due to an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness due to service in Southwest Asia during the Gulf War.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and effective dates have been denied. The Board found that the right knee meniscus tear was not caused by his service-connected back and foot disabilities. For benign positional vertigo, the evidence did not support a finding of peripheral vestibular disorder. The bone loss of skull is considered less than a quarter in size. The PTSD with anxiety disorder, OCD, and cognitive disorder alone has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The TBI residuals have been rated appropriately.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records, SSA records, and employment education history. A psychiatric examination under DSM-IV criteria is also required.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and an anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD with MDD and GAD was granted, effective from April 29, 2005. The Board found that the increase in disability occurred prior to the filing of the claim.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD. The claim will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders are found to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be related to in-service noise exposure.,A generalized anxiety disorder was incurred during service.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is being remanded due to inconsistencies in the examination report and need for a new VA psychiatric evaluation using DSM-5 criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a valid diagnosis of PTSD and his acquired psychiatric disability is not related to service. Therefore, he is denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a 30 percent disability rating from March 14, 1985 to November 14, 2002.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder, were not shown to be related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety, is rated at 50 percent since the date of his claim. The other conditions (bilateral hearing loss, lung condition, heart condition, and rashes/fungus) are not service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety Disorder is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of these conditions.