Anxiety decisions — 2018

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. Service connection for a respiratory condition and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current level of impairment due to his unspecified trauma-related disorder is not adequately addressed by the January 2015 VA examination. Therefore, a remand is necessary to obtain an updated examination and consider any additional medical evidence.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, anxiety disorder, sleep disorder, and memory problems. Service connection for sinusitis is also granted as secondary to the service-connected status-post thoracotomy. The appeal was reopened due to new evidence received since previous decisions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claim of service connection for an anxiety disorder, and as a result, the Board dismissed the case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current PTSD, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder and bipolar disorder are etiologically related to service. The decision is based on the Veteran's reported in-service stressors and his current psychiatric diagnoses.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral hearing loss disability.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder with anxiety and sleep impairment is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's character of discharge was upgraded to under honorable conditions (general), thus removing any bar to VA benefits. The underlying merits of the service connection claims will now be adjudicated.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder is related to his active duty service and grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, depressive disorder, and undifferentiated somatoform disorder, is caused by his service-connected mitral valve prolapse. As a result, the claim for secondary service connection is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case is remanded to schedule a VA examination and obtain any outstanding private treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a fractured right foot and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder and panic disorder with agoraphobia. The decision found no evidence of in-service fractures or mental health disorders.

The Veteran's anxiety and depressive disorders with alcohol abuse are rated at 50 percent, the minimum for a disability. The evidence does not support an increase to a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and a need for an updated VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, previously characterized as PTSD, has been reopened. The appeal is granted to this extent only. Service connection for the Veteran's sleep disorder and headache disorder are remanded due to need for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's initial rating for his service-connected psychiatric disorders was increased to 50 percent, but the claim remains pending as a higher rating is sought. The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence of current severity.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety has been rated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board found that it more nearly approximates occupational and social impairment warranting a 30 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and a sleep disorder, on a secondary basis. Additionally, the Board has granted an initial 30 percent rating for service-connected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, are granted as service connected due to a stressful event during his active duty in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and additional efforts should be made through opinions rather than another in-person examination.