Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and assigned a 100% disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was denied. His service-connected low back disability is rated at 40 percent, and his lumbar radiculitis of the left lower extremity is also rated at 10 percent. The appeals for hearing loss, TDIU, and RLS were withdrawn.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was incurred during his period of honorable active service. As such, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is related to active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The claims for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type 2 are pending.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as adjustment disorder, anxiety, and depression, is proximately due to his service-connected hearing loss, tinnitus, and vestibular disorder. The Board finds that service connection is warranted for this condition.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity during the period from October 31, 2014 to December 29, 2016. The Board granted a 70% evaluation for this period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service-connection for PTSD, MDD and Anxiety Disorder due to lack of credible in-service stressors and no link between current psychiatric conditions and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, anxiety, migraine headaches, a left knee disability, and residuals of left wrist fracture with mild degenerative joint disease. The issues were broadened to include a claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with panic attacks was not caused by service, and the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to non-compliance with previous remand directives. The claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a skin condition are being deferred pending resolution of the psychiatric disorder claim.

The Board has granted service connection for Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety Disorder, but denied service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. The Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his military discharge.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a hearing loss disability of the right ear, an acquired psychiatric disorder, left leg disability, and gastrointestinal disability are all denied as there is no current disability found in each case.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD. The Veteran is also requested to provide verification of her in-service stressors.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The kidney disability and hypertension cases are pending.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, are found to be related to a reported military sexual trauma (MST) during active duty for training (ACDUTRA). The Board finds the evidence in equipoise on whether the MST occurred and grants service connection based on new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including IBS, anxiety disorder, sinusitis, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since September 2, 2014. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU are met beginning on this date.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, GERD, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered to be related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.,Service connection was granted for anxiety disorder, basal cell cancer of the nose, and arthritis, facet joint L5-S1.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's mental health conditions, including PTSD. The AOJ will obtain relevant records and provide a new VA examination.