Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in March 2016.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression and thoracolumbar strain.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left knee disorder, and right knee degenerative joint disease (including DM) and sleep apnea. The Veteran's obesity was found to be a substantial factor in the development of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety was remanded due to insufficient evidence to corroborate the claimed stressor. The case is now being returned for further development.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, mood disorder, anxiety, and depression. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and anxiety is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his in-service stressor and a VA examination.

The Board has expanded the issue to include an acquired psychiatric disability, as indicated by the Veteran in his original claim and in conformance with the Federal Circuit's decision in Clemmons v. West, 206 F.3d 1401, 1403 (Fed. Cir. 2000). The appeal is REMANDED to attempt to obtain additional treatment records, military records, and verify in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was reopened, but the Board denied his claims for increased ratings and effective dates.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability did not begin in service and is not etiologically related to service. The Veteran does not have PTSD, but has been diagnosed with Opioid Use Disorder, Depression, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn regarding cervical dysplasia. The remaining issues have not been granted as service connection is denied for ulcerative colitis, chronic respiratory disorder, chronic bronchitis, chronic sinusitis, chronic rhinitis, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), left arm paresthesia, pancreas disorder, and fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disability found, to include PTSD, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and adjustment disorder. The AOJ should also obtain all outstanding VA treatment records from the Silver Spring Vet Center.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is being remanded due to the need for further examination and development of stressor verification.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and for a higher initial rating for anxiety disorder, as well as his claim for service connection for the cause of his death. The Veteran was not found to have had occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to his anxiety disorder, and his service-connected conditions were not determined to be a principal or contributory cause of his death.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is service-connected, and he was granted a non-initial rating of 10 percent for his left knee osteoarthritis prior to July 15, 2015. He also received a non-initial rating of 30 percent for his status post left total knee replacement with osteoarthritis from September 1, 2016 and thereafter. The Veteran was granted TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a right knee disability, but denied the remaining claims. The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to conflicting evidence in his VA records.

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. The Veteran's symptoms have been related to his active duty service, and the evidence is in equipoise as to whether he should be granted service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and issuing new medical opinions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is found to be attributable to his in-service combat service stressors and granted.

The Veteran's personality disorder is not service-connected as it was present prior to service and did not worsen during service. The acquired psychiatric disorders, including obsessive compulsive disorder with depression and anxiety, are also not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and an adjustment disorder, was not incurred or aggravated by active service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.