Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder, is found to have started during service and continues today.,The Veteran's stomach disability, including chemical gastritis and nondiabetic gastroparesis, was also found to have begun in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. Updated VA treatment records since April 2010 should also be obtained.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received after the last adjudication, and an SSOC must be issued before the claim is returned to the Board.

The Veteran's claimed stroke and residuals thereof are not found to be caused by VA medical treatment, but the Board finds that his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder may have contributed to or aggravated his current neurological symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examinations and need for further analysis of the Veteran's psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's claim is primarily that his currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depressive disorders) is aggravated by the residuals of his service-connected fracture of mandible, left subcondylar region. The Board has determined additional development is needed to address this issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes or a cardiac disability, including coronary artery disease. Therefore, service connection is denied for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no evidence of a chronic acquired psychiatric disability, hypertension or hypertensive heart disease, or bilateral knee disability during service. The Board found that the current disabilities are not related to service.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, concluding that her psychiatric disability was not caused by or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied due to his failure to report for VA examinations scheduled in July 2016 without good cause.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety NOS, and depression, has been dismissed as the Veteran indicated a desire to withdraw his appeal.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and there is no credible evidence linking his current psychiatric conditions to service. The claim for service connection for depression and anxiety disorders is denied as the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board found that the appellant was not permanently incapable of self-support prior to her 18th birthday, and therefore does not meet the criteria for recognition as a helpless child.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and PTSD, has been denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of such disorders.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, including PTSD and depression, is rated at 30 percent. The Board found that the disability did not warrant a higher rating as his symptoms were not indicative of significant impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's depressive disorder, finding that it is related to his military service. The appeal regarding polysubstance abuse was withdrawn by the Veteran and his representative.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities are related to his military service. The Veteran will also be given an opportunity to provide more detailed information about the traumatic events he experienced during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, requires additional development due to the need for updated mental health examinations and verification of claimed stressors.