Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, right ankle disorder, and right ring finger volar plate fracture.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, has been manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas but not total occupational and social impairment. The Board finds a 70 percent rating is warranted.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including hearing loss, gout, stomach disorder, and psychiatric disability. The Board has determined that further examination is necessary to address the severity of these conditions.,The Veteran claims service connection for gout (of the left knee and feet) and a stomach disorder. A VA examination is needed to determine if these disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD has been reopened, but the underlying claim remains denied.,The Veteran's coronary artery disease is currently rated at 60 percent prior to March 31, 2015 and the issue of a higher rating on or after that date is dismissed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for varicose veins and granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The left knee disability is not considered distinct from the service-connected peripheral vascular disease, but it is not determined whether it is aggravated by that condition. Service connection for anxiety disorder and depression are also granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including an adjustment disorder, depression, and anxiety, were not incurred in service or related to any in-service event or illness. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant in a January 2018 submission.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran meets the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and any other diagnosed psychiatric disabilities, including anxiety. The examiner should provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability did not manifest during or as a result of service and is not related to any service-connected condition. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability was denied.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and an addendum opinion from a qualified examiner to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder that may be present.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's alleged stressors and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder NOS with depressive features and PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and verifying his reported stressors. A VA psychiatric examination will also be scheduled to determine the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, nor did they cause him to be housebound. Therefore, SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or at the housebound rate is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 30, 2008 for the grant of a 70 percent rating for generalized anxiety disorder is denied as there was no evidence from which it could be factually ascertainable that the criteria for a 70 percent rating were first met within a year prior to that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is service-connected due to exposure to traumatic events during his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for VA examinations and additional development of records.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder have resulted in occupational and social impairment, warranting a 50% rating for his service-connected conditions. The Board has also found that the Veteran is unemployable due to these disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD and did not have a current diagnosis of PTSD. The VA examiner determined that his anxiety and depressive disorders are less likely than not caused by or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder and alcohol dependence in full remission has rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, resulting in a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and substance abuse/pain medication addiction, as well as his claim for a higher rating for right knee disability, were denied. The Board also found that the Veteran was not unemployable due to his disabilities.