Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and remanded the issues of service connection for a thoracolumbar spine condition, left hand condition, acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, and residuals of cold injury of the right foot.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,Service connection for psychiatric disabilities, digestive disabilities (diarrhea and constipation), groin pain, and erectile dysfunction is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for chronic fatigue as secondary to service-connected tinnitus has been granted.,The Veteran's claims for anxiety, depression and panic attacks have been reopened and granted. The appeal is granted to this extent only.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches and right knee strain are dismissed. The appeal for a higher rating for PTSD is remanded.

The Board has expanded the matter to include all psychiatric disabilities, and recharacterized the claim as entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability. The case is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's initial 50 percent rating for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood is being remanded due to the lack of records from her treatment at New York University, Military Family Clinic between February 2015 to September 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depressive disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current symptoms to his military service.

The Veteran's chronic headaches, right foot fifth toe fracture, and dementia (other than memory loss related to anxiety disorder) are granted service connection. The Veteran is also assigned a 10% evaluation for the right foot fifth toe fracture.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. A new VA examination is required to provide adequate diagnoses and etiology opinions for all of the claimant’s acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's spouse is entitled to an earlier effective date of April 23, 2014 for the payment of dependency allowance due to a prior claim received by VA on that date.

The Veteran's PTSD, MDD, and GAD have caused total occupational and social impairment from March 28, 2013 to March 13, 2015. The Board granted a 100% rating for this period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including residuals of a spider bite of the right hand, left hip condition, left ankle condition, and right ankle condition. The acquired psychiatric disorder was granted as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol dependence is rated at 50 percent prior to July 29, 2015. The Board has granted a rating of 100 percent for the entire period on appeal including prior to July 29, 2015.

The Veteran's major depression and anxiety disorder have been rated at 70 percent since October 2, 2007.

The Veteran's service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with depression and anxiety (previously rated as posttraumatic stress disorder) has been manifested by no more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. The Board denied an increased rating for the disability.

The Veteran's anxiety with alcohol abuse has not resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a rating no higher than 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA medical records. The Veteran's current psychiatric diagnoses will be evaluated to determine if they are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and bipolar disorder should be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding whether his conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia, manic depression, and anxiety disorder, is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and need for further examination. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with updated treatment records, verification of stressors, and a new VA examination.