Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA and VA treatment records, as well as new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder and pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including unspecified anxiety disorder and PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and need for additional examinations. The Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, psychiatric disorders, leg pain, and foot pain are all under review.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and reopened the claims for SAH and SHA. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is found to be related to his military service, while the claims for SAH and SHA are denied as there are no qualifying disabilities.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with depressive disorder NOS is not rated higher than 30 percent, and the initial ratings for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are granted at 20 percent. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and medical evaluations.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other conditions do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, as his mental health issues are manageable in a solitary work environment.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in total impairment to occupational and social functioning as of February 1, 2011. The Board granted a 100% evaluation for PTSD based on the severity of symptoms during this period.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder is currently rated as 70 percent disabling, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an initial compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, glaucoma, and left ear hearing loss is now before the AOJ.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of evidence establishing a current disability and/or a link between the claimed conditions and service. The Board found that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim for PTSD, but did not find any material evidence relating to the left hip disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to lack of recent VA examinations and incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional development and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The AOJ must also verify any in-service stressor related to witnessing a fight that included a stabbing while serving in Bahrain in August 1991, and determine whether the Veteran's current symptoms are due to an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness due to service in Southwest Asia during the Gulf War.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and effective dates have been denied. The Board found that the right knee meniscus tear was not caused by his service-connected back and foot disabilities. For benign positional vertigo, the evidence did not support a finding of peripheral vestibular disorder. The bone loss of skull is considered less than a quarter in size. The PTSD with anxiety disorder, OCD, and cognitive disorder alone has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The TBI residuals have been rated appropriately.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records, SSA records, and employment education history. A psychiatric examination under DSM-IV criteria is also required.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and an anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD with MDD and GAD was granted, effective from April 29, 2005. The Board found that the increase in disability occurred prior to the filing of the claim.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD. The claim will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders are found to be related to his active duty service.