Anxiety Board decisions

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 12, 2005.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to April 16, 2015. From April 16, 2015 forward, the Veteran experienced deficiencies in most areas such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking and mood.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has been rated at 30 percent since July 10, 2008. The Board found that the symptoms are not severe enough to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD with anxiety disorder, caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas prior to April 29, 2016. The disability did not meet the criteria for a rating of 100 percent due to lack of total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to outstanding treatment records and other issues. The Veteran's request for service connection for any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression, as well as his claim for TDIU, are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders and substance abuse disorder are not service-connected as they do not meet the criteria for service connection under the applicable laws and regulations.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and anxiety disorder were denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD. The diagnoses are now considered to be an anxiety disorder, which was not present in service or until many years thereafter.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is found to be related to his active duty service. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's anxiety is granted as service connected, and the issue of service connection for headaches on a secondary basis to his service-connected back disability is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current schizophrenia, paranoid type, with depression and anxiety had its onset in service and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's thoracic spine, left shoulder, left knee, left ankle, right ankle/foot, eye, stomach, leg numbness, and heart disabilities are not service-connected. The psychiatric disability is also not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the inclusion of VA treatment records dated between February and August 2017 in the claims file. The case will be readjudicated, with all relevant evidence considered.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a gastrointestinal condition, to include secondary to his service-connected Crohn's disease, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, PTSD, and depressive disorder, finding that there was no medical evidence linking his current mental health conditions to his in-service experiences.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development of VA treatment records, particularly those from January 2018 and February 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, bipolar disorder and PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and a new opinion regarding the relationship between his current disorders and in-service stressors.

The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted as of December 23, 2009. The Board also dismissed all other claims due to the Veteran's withdrawal during his February 2018 hearing.

The Veteran's hypertension and renal dysfunction associated with it are granted initial ratings of 10% and 30%, respectively, effective June 7, 2011. Service connection for an anxiety disorder is also granted.