Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of service connection for psychiatric disorder, pulmonary disability, skin disability, and neurological disability. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral cataracts. The Veteran's current diagnosis of congenital bilateral cataracts is not related to service, nor are his acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee disorder, or bilateral foot disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, mood disorder, ADHD and Sociopathic Personality Disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal of the denial of service connection for a low back disability and the initial ratings assigned for PTSD with anxiety and depressive symptoms, status post traumatic brain injury; folliculitis with early component of hidradenitis suppurativa of the axilla and groin; and status post orbital blowout fracture.

The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder, which as likely as not had its onset during or is otherwise related to her active duty service. Therefore, the criteria for a grant of service connection for a psychiatric disability have been met.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development including consideration of new evidence and a VA examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, PTSD with depression and anxiety, GERD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim for left wrist disability is pending as it requires further examination.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disability, as well as to address whether any current acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder, has been rated at 70 percent since October 15, 2015. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the severity of her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorder not otherwise specified (NOS), was incurred in active military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), has been rated at 70 percent since December 2012. The current rating is for an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is found to be the cause of his erectile dysfunction. The Veteran also meets criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a supplemental opinion from another VA examiner regarding the relationship between the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were denied as there is no probative evidence linking these conditions to his active service. The claim for PTSD was also denied due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum VA opinion to determine when each of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities first manifested, including depression, anxiety disorder, and schizophrenia NOS. The effective date for service connection will be determined based on this new information.

The Board is remanding the case due to the need for additional records from SSA and VA, as well as any relevant private treatment records. The claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depression, is found to be caused or permanently worsened by his service-connected disabilities (including obstructive sleep apnea, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and tension headaches).

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at a 10 percent disability rating since January 3, 2014. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support an increased rating for any period of time.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine the relationship between any diagnosed psychiatric disability and the Veteran's service, including his deployment in Vietnam. The claim is being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD, and service connection for depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia is also denied as there is no evidence of these conditions in service.