Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety neurosis), a left arm disorder, and a right leg disorder have been granted. The claim for diabetes mellitus, type II remains denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including depression with anxiety, ADD, and PTSD due to military sexual trauma (MST), was not caused or aggravated by a disease or injury in active service. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence does not support a connection between the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities and his service.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depressive disorders, is being remanded due to the need for additional development. The issue of reopening a PTSD claim remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD with anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional medical records.

The Board found that the Veteran's respiratory disorder was not present during active military service or to a compensable degree within one year of separation, and is not etiologically related to any incident of service. The claim for respiratory disorder has been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD due to a military sexual assault (MTS), anxiety and major depressive disorder. The Veteran's claims of an MST have been corroborated by multiple VA providers who accepted her reports as credible.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with panic disorder and sleep disorder was rated at 100 percent, which rendered the TDIU claim moot.

The Veteran's initial 70 percent rating for an adjustment disorder with anxiety is granted, and a TDIU is also granted. The appeal is granted to these extents.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that while there was a pre-existing condition, it did not show evidence that active duty caused or aggravated this condition.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of lower back pain. The Veteran's psychiatric disability, which resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, is granted an initial 70 percent rating from November 29, 2007.,From April 29, 2010, the Veteran is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran is found to have an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically anxiety, that is related to her service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from a psychiatrist regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disability.

The appellant's request for an extension of her DEA benefits beyond October 26, 2014 was denied as the evidence did not clearly establish by medical evidence that a program of education was medically infeasible due to her own physical or mental disability.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated as 70 percent disabling, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU. The evidence shows occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but no total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the issues of service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders and cardiovascular diseases.

The Board has granted service connection for epilepsy, an acquired psychiatric disorder to include as secondary to epilepsy, and residuals of a nose fracture.

The Veteran's appeals on bone disease, diabetes mellitus, and forehead laceration were withdrawn prior to the promulgation of a decision. The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability was granted as secondary to TBI.

The Board has found the Veteran's current diagnoses of major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, PTSD, and imbalance and dizziness. The Board also finds that an in-service stressor occurred during service. However, the VA examiner did not find a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran’s military service. Therefore, the case is remanded for further examination to address the Veteran's complete medical history and determine if his current psychiatric and balance disorders are related to his military service.

The Board has found the Veteran's current diagnoses of major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, PTSD, and imbalance and dizziness. The Board also finds that an in-service stressor occurred during service. However, the VA examiner could not provide a nexus opinion due to lack of confirmation of the events and stressors reported by the Veteran. The Board has ordered remand for further examination and opinions on the issues.