Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his service stressor allegations.

The Board has remanded all issues on appeal due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service personnel and medical records, scheduling examinations, and seeking private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded due to new and material evidence. The TDIU and hemorrhoids claims are also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow the VA to further evaluate and determine service connection for a right eye disability.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety and major depressive disorder is remanded due to lack of adequate etiology opinion.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding VA treatment records and the claims for service connection for anxiety, PTSD, and depression must be remanded to obtain these records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were so severe as to prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment since October 27, 2009. The Board has determined that the evidence of record demonstrates this and affords the benefit of doubt to grant a TDIU effective October 27, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression is reopened and granted, with the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressive mood, is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The examiner must consider the Veteran’s account of his service in Korea and opine on whether these conditions are related to an in-service injury or event.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depression, anxiety disorder, and schizophrenia. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service, with two private physicians finding a link between the disabilities and service while one VA examiner did not. Service treatment records show mental health issues during service, and both private physicians found current diagnoses were secondary to service.

The Veteran's death was caused by coronary insufficiency with angina pectoris due to congestive heart failure, which is linked to his service-connected PTSD. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected condition contributed to his cause of death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for acne vulgaris and anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified, are both denied as the current evaluations of 10 percent and 30 percent respectively are appropriate given the evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further stressor verification regarding the 1987 missile handling mishap and the shipboard fire in 1984. Additionally, a new VA examination is needed to assess his psychiatric disorder(s) and GERD.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, effective from the date of this decision. The issue of entitlement to TDIU has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient STRs and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression and alcohol abuse, is being reviewed with a focus on associating these records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle disability and remanded the issues of service connection for psychiatric disabilities (including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression) and low back disability.

The Board affirms the grant of a clothing allowance for a back brace used by the Veteran for his service-connected back disability, but denies the claims for topical cream and TENS unit.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for initial ratings in excess of 30 percent for chronic migraines and generalized anxiety disorder.