Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his psychiatric disorders, bilateral knee disabilities, shoulder disabilities, TMJ dysfunction, and low back disability. The Veteran also needs a new examination to determine if his current psychiatric conditions may be related to military service.

The Veteran's PTSD with generalized anxiety disorder is rated at a 50 percent evaluation, which meets the criteria for reduced reliability and productivity.,The Veteran's right knee strain requires another VA examination to determine its extent of disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been submitted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, a low back condition, a cardiovascular condition, and diabetes mellitus are being remanded as well.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and the issues of increased evaluation for right ankle disability, service connection for right hip disorder, service connection for right leg disorder, and service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression with anxiety) are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety reaction, nervous disorder, and depressive disorder is granted. Service connection is also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder including major depressive disorder with anxiety and panic disorder agoraphobia. The TDIU claim is remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD should be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and missing VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and a psychiatric disorder due to incomplete records from the Veteran's Reserve service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder is granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and lumbar spine disability are denied. Effective dates prior to July 27, 2012 for these disabilities are also denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for muscle weakness, severe stomach and abdominal pains, sun sensitivity, loss of appetite, unusual bruising, eye condition, hepatitis C, migraines, numbness of the left side of the face and body, numbness and tingling in the left foot, numbness and tingling in the right foot, left hand pain/numbness, right hand pain/numbness, brain damage, short term memory loss, dizziness, excess tiredness, acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depression), and skin rash have all been dismissed.,The Veteran withdrew his appeals for these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, paranoid disorder, anxiety disorder, and depression due to incomplete evaluations and a need for additional evidence. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder are service-connected due to a verified in-service stressor of participating in a rescue mission for a merchant marine ship.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that the current evaluation adequately reflects the severity of his condition, and thus denies an increased initial evaluation.

The Veteran's initial rating for migraine headaches is granted at a 50% disability rating since April 16, 2008. The Veteran's anxiety disorder claim is remanded due to the inadequate examination provided.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, due to military sexual trauma (MST) and sexual harassment by a female superior officer during periods of Active Duty for Training (ADT). The Veteran's claims are supported by her own testimony, corroborated statements from friends, VA mental health records, and private psychological evaluations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a groin muscle injury was denied in the past, but new evidence has reopened this claim.,Service connection is granted for headaches. The Veteran reported head injuries sustained during boxing and football while serving.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case of service connection for depression/anxiety is remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and an examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety/depression is remanded due to missing treatment records and personnel records. The AOJ will request copies of these documents, conduct a VA examination if needed, and determine whether new and material evidence has been received.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including depression and Alzheimer's/dementia, were incurred during active duty service or aggravated by reactivation into service after May 2001. The VA is required to obtain an opinion from a VA psychiatrist regarding these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective for the appeal period. Prior to March 1, 2011, he was not found unemployable due to his service-connected disability. Beginning March 1, 2011, a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression) due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. A new examination is required.