Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, did not manifest in service or is related to any event during service. The preponderance of evidence supports a finding that the current psychiatric disability is not related to service or any event, injury, or disease during service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The evidence does not support service connection for his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety and depressive disorders, not otherwise specified, and PTSD; increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, boutonniere deformity of the right little finger, degenerative arthritis of the right ankle, degenerative arthritis of the left ankle, and residuals of a right wrist injury have been denied. The Veteran's claims are currently under appellate status.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment and anxiety disorders, is currently rated at 50 percent effective November 21, 2015. The rating remains unchanged as the evidence does not meet criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with panic disorder and nervous stomach has been rated at 70 percent, the highest schedular rating available. The Board also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected mental health conditions.

The Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension (HTN) have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and MDD, warrants a disability rating of 50 percent prior to June 13, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction, render him unemployable due to their impact on his ability to perform substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent since May 19, 2010.,The Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU effective from May 19, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression with anxiety was reopened and granted. The headaches are rated at a 30 percent rating prior to March 24, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and notifying her of any inability to obtain the requested documents.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for atopic dermatitis, sleep apnea, hyperlipidemia, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and anxiety disorder), chronic sleep impairment, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral knee disability, diabetes mellitus type II, and nephropathy with hypertension. The Board found that the evidence did not support a relationship between these conditions and service or any presumptive exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the claims have been dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain gainful employment, which qualifies for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding SSA records and VA mental health treatment records, which need to be obtained and associated with the claim file.

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of PTSD should be June 21, 2008.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and essential myocronus before the Board made a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and major depressive disorders, did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating beyond 30 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse and anxiety disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, effective from September 25, 2016. The Veteran was previously rated as 30 percent for the period prior to this date.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety and depression, is found to be related to his in-service stressors. Service connection for these conditions is granted.