Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the ratings of generalized anxiety disorder with obsessive compulsive disorder and lower back disc herniation with left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder and PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development. The VA examiner found no current psychiatric diagnosis but noted previous diagnoses of anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated VA records and scheduling a psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder (previously Dysthymia with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Attacks) is currently rated at 70 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating, as it does not demonstrate total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including investigating Private D.F.'s service record and scheduling a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder present at any time since May 2010.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's PTSD with depression and anxiety is related to his period of active military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is not related to his service. The claim for erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to include obtaining service treatment records, VA and private medical records, and a VA examination.

The Veteran's major depression and anxiety disorder have been characterized by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but deficiencies in most areas have not been shown. The Veteran is currently assigned a 50 percent disability rating for this condition.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from a qualified examiner to address diagnoses other than depressive disorder and antisocial personality disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, due to the Veteran's combat experiences in Iraq. The dental disability claims are not supported by evidence of a disease or injury incurred during service.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder has been rated at 30 percent since February 6, 2012. The VA examiner found that the condition causes occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks due to symptoms such as anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, nightmares, suspiciousness, efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings or conversations associated with trauma, and efforts to avoid activities, places or people.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and verifying his reserve service. The claim for TDIU will be inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of seminoma, anxiety disorder, bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral shoulder disabilities, and low back disability have all been denied. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active military service or herbicide agent exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), was not incurred or aggravated by active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorders are related to his active service, and to provide an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any identified psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified, is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for clarification of the Veteran's psychiatric disability diagnoses and a new examination to address the etiology of his psychiatric disabilities.