Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to assess the combined effect of all his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work, including his now service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including whether they are related to service or caused by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD has not resulted in total occupational and social impairment, as his symptoms have been sporadic and intermittent over the past year.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder NOS, are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for PTSD under DSM-IV and whether any current psychiatric disability is causally related to service, including fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. The appeal will be reconsidered based on the entire record.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder with psychosis and paranoia, schizoaffective disorder, and depression and anxiety, is found to be at least as likely as not related to service. The right ear hearing loss disability has been rated based on the severity of its symptoms and impact on function. TDIU will be considered in conjunction with the rating decision for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD as a result of military sexual trauma (MST), is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for cause of death. The Veteran's service-connected mental health disorder is found to be at least as likely as not related to his suicide, which caused his death.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder (previously evaluated as PTSD) is rated at 70 percent since June 19, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including generalized anxiety disorder, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the feet, and psoriasis, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his right shoulder disorder and TDIU claim were both denied. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not preclude him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional efforts to verify the Veteran's reported in-service stressor and for an additional VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorders that may be present.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and for psychosis for the purpose of establishing eligibility for treatment pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1702, finding that there was no evidence of a psychosis within two years of service separation.,The Board concluded that the Veteran's pre-existing psychiatric conditions did not increase in severity during his military service and thus denied service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher initial rating for PTSD with MDD and GAD with panic attacks prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety disorder. Service connection for a heart disability is denied as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's claimed stressors, particularly regarding civilian deaths in Korea. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities have been rated at 10 percent since April 28, 2001. Effective March 2, 2017, the Veteran is entitled to a 20 percent rating for each ankle disability due to marked limitation of motion. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder has not been linked to service or any incident thereof and thus does not meet criteria for service connection. The Veteran's TDIU claim has also been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and private medical records, scheduling VA examinations to address his claimed psychiatric and orthopedic disabilities, and readjudication of the claims.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for service-connected bilateral hand tremors has been withdrawn. For the entire period on appeal, her anxiety disorder with personality disorder is manifested by significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder (not otherwise specified). However, the claim was denied as there is no evidence showing a current disability resulting from active military service.