Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted within one year of the original September 2010 rating decision, thus the claim is not final. The Veteran's service records do not show any psychiatric symptoms during service, but he was diagnosed with PTSD, depression, and anxiety after service. Further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and a lack of contemporaneous medical records. The Veteran is required to undergo another VA psychiatric examination by an appropriate medical professional.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression. The appeal is granted to this extent only, and the claims of service connection for low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including intermittent explosive disorder, PTSD, anxiety disorder and depression) are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder is sufficiently disabling to prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus, anxiety disorder, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss due to new evidence or further medical evaluation. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorder, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or were related to any in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and depression did not pre-exist service, nor were they aggravated by service. The Board found no increase in symptoms or frequency during or following his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD. The VA will attempt to corroborate the Veteran’s reported stressors and provide a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his current mental health conditions.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is granted service connection. The initial rating for mitral valve prolapse remains at 60 percent, and the initial ratings for headaches (30%) and gastrointestinal disorder (10%) are also maintained.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service connected disabilities (TDIU) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to potential service connection issues, including a need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his conditions and military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an Anxiety Disorder, and a Dysthymic Disorder (claimed as Depression) due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychological disorder, including PTSD, is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to clarify his current diagnosis and determine its relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a headache disorder, respiratory condition, hypertension, insomnia, peripheral vascular disease of the left and right lower extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including anxiety, depression, and PTSD) due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional records and a VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorder is related to military service.

The Board denied the claim for service connection of an acquired psychological disorder, including schizophrenia, anxiety, and depression, as it found no evidence linking these conditions to the appellant's period of active duty for training.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected depressive disorder, with unspecified anxiety disorder and polysubstance disorder in remission prior to May 22, 2018 was denied. From May 22, 2018, a 70 percent disability rating is granted.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU from May 22, 2018 was granted.

The appeal to reopen a claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The entitlement to service connection for the same condition is remanded.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, characterized by symptoms such as irritability, anger issues, and strained relationships with family members and co-workers, warrants a 70 percent disability rating since September 14, 2009.