Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder and concluded that it is less likely than not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depression, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder, are not related to his military service. The evidence does not show a nexus between his current conditions and his time in service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS was productive of occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms prior to September 14, 2011. Beginning on September 14, 2011, the Veteran experienced occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of unit records and payroll records, which may contain information about the Veteran's service in Lebanon. The Veteran is requested to provide any additional evidence or argument.

The Board has found sufficient evidence to grant service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder. However, additional development is needed to more fully ascertain the nature and etiology of the claimed PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death. No rating decision was made as the issues were not about service connection.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues, including the rating for anxiety disorder and service connection for panic disorder, sleeping disorder, PTSD, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities. The issues of service connection and TDIU are inextricably intertwined and will be held in abeyance until further action on these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and anxiety, are found to have contributed substantially or materially to his death. Service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is rated at 70 percent since September 8, 2016. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with anxiety and left ankle injury do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and the need for additional records, including those from a private psychiatrist.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran currently meets (or did at any time during the pendency of this appeal) the diagnostic criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD or other psychiatric disorder, and whether it is at least as likely as not that any diagnosed psychiatric disability is related to military service. The Veteran's in-service stressor must also be verified.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as her service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the nature and etiology of any current diagnosed psychiatric disorders, with a focus on whether they are related to his active duty service or specifically to his service-connected asthma.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals and anxiety disorder were not found to warrant higher ratings, with the exception of gastritis which was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including eating disorders and PTSD. The evidence supports that these conditions had their onset in or are otherwise directly related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety, and adjustment disorder with depressed mood, as secondary to a service-connected bilateral shoulder disorder. The Board also granted service connection for a bilateral knee disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected anxiety disorder and any erectile dysfunction. The issues on appeal are whether he should receive an increased rating for his anxiety disorder and whether his erectile dysfunction is secondary to his service-connected conditions.