Anxiety Board decisions

The Board found that the original grant of service connection for mood disorder was not based on clear and unmistakable error, thus restoring service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and increased disability rating for service-connected left ear hearing loss due to new evidence provided by the Veteran and potential increase in symptoms since his last VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, was denied as there is no current diagnosis of such disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety disorder was received on December 27, 1983. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at December 27, 1983.,The Veteran's original claim for service connection for a head tumor with secondary disabilities (scalp scar, seizures, and constipation) was received on March 17, 2010. The effective date for the grant of service connection is set at March 17, 2010.,The Veteran's claims for scalp scar, seizures, and constipation are secondary to his head tumor. These conditions were not separately claimed prior to March 17, 2010.,No effective date earlier than March 17, 2010 is granted for the service connection of these secondary disabilities as they are related to the primary disability (head tumor).,The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder including anxiety due to new and material evidence. The claims are remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling medical examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected low back and lower extremity disabilities are found to be the primary cause of his mood disorder with anxiety, which is granted as secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, and for a higher rating for tinnitus was denied. The Board found that there is no legal basis for an assignment of a schedular rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or maintaining more than marginal employment, and thus grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for major depression, anxiety, sleeping problems, and irritability as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spondylosis and strain/myositis has been dismissed. The appeal for a rating in excess of 60 percent for his service-connected lumbar spondylosis and strain/myositis has also been dismissed.

The Board has expanded the Veteran's claim to include all similar psychiatric disorders and has ordered a VA examination to determine if any of these conditions, including PTSD, are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The actinic keratosis, solar damaged skin, and solar lentigos claim was denied as the symptoms do not meet a higher rating under DCs 7800-7804 or 7805. The anxiety disorder claim was also denied as there is no evidence of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, particularly his PTSD. The Veteran is asked to provide information about any treatment and to have stressor verification conducted by JSSRC. A VA examination will be scheduled to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorder. The Veteran's PTSD is found to be directly related to his reported in-service stressor.

The Board has denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between any current disability and military service.

The Board has granted service connection for shrapnel residuals of the left hand, anxiety disorder, NOS, and PTSD. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been remanded due to insufficient information or need for further evaluation. The initial rating for tardive dyskinesia remains at 10 percent, depression with anxiety is rated as 30 percent prior to January 7, 2011, and 70 percent after that date. Service connection for left ear hearing loss, seizure disorder, and diabetes mellitus is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons for denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, mood disorder and anxiety. The Veteran's account of in-service experiences needs to be corroborated by additional information from his military training practices.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding the relationship between the veteran's depressive disorder and his service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including his claimed acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD, depression, and anxiety), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities. The remand includes a request for additional development regarding the Veteran's alleged exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a higher rating for anxiety neurosis are being remanded due to the need for additional documentation and an examination.