Anxiety Board decisions

The Board found no evidence of a service connection for the claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, cervical spine disorder, left shoulder disability, or bilateral hearing loss disability.,All three disabilities were not shown to be related to military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a sinus disability and granted it. The remaining issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and heart disability are not attributable to service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, bilateral cataracts, and acquired psychiatric disability are service-connected. The Board also found no evidence of peripheral vascular disease, diabetic cystopathy, or gastroparesis.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and has determined that new and material evidence has been received. The Board also found that there is sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders and his in-service symptoms, thus granting service connection.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a psychiatric disability, which was granted on January 28, 2011. The Board finds that this is the earliest date after the May 2007 rating decision where the Veteran expressed intent to reopen his claim.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease has rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, an adjustment disorder, anxiety, and a panic disorder. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and increased rating for her acquired psychiatric disorder has been denied. The Board found that the earliest date of receipt for her service connection claim was June 17, 2008, and she did not have prior communications indicating intent to reopen her claim before this date.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was denied as there is no legal basis for the assignment of such a higher evaluation. The effective date remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety, PTSD, and fatigue have been dismissed. The Board has granted service connection for tension headaches as secondary to her service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling VA examinations. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability will be addressed after the necessary adjudications are completed.

The Veteran's anxiety and depression have been rated at 30 percent prior to June 14, 2013. The symptoms include occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder with anxious stress and panic attacks and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, has been rated at 70 percent since February 12, 2010. The rating is granted as the evidence shows a significant impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for a retrospective VA examination to determine if his anxiety disorder is related to his military service, separate and distinct from his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, intermittent explosive disorder, and panic disorder. The case is remanded for a VA examination to determine the etiology of any diagnosed disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions, including PTSD and prostate disorder.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for an alcohol and substance use disorder was granted, and he is now entitled to this benefit. The effective date for the grant of service connection for social anxiety disorder is set at May 31, 2012.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression is currently rated at 70 percent, effective February 19, 2011. The claim for higher ratings on other conditions remains pending.