Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder have been rated at 30 percent prior to August 7, 2013, and increased to 50 percent on or after that date. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating for either period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his in-service stressor and grants service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination. The issue of entitlement to an extraschedular rating for generalized anxiety disorder with depression is also being referred to the Director of Compensation Service.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, including left ear hearing loss, PTSD, DJD with supraspinatus tendon tear in the left shoulder, laceration right wrist with ulnar neuropathy and degenerative changes, and bilateral tinnitus.,The Veteran's multiple service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was rated at 50 percent effective November 1, 2010. This rating is based on his symptoms of depression, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, and mild memory loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorder NOS, is being remanded due to conflicting diagnoses and the need for additional VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining his complete service treatment records and conducting a VA psychiatric examination. The issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and TDIU are being addressed.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain a VA examination and additional private treatment records, as well as to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected residuals of dental trauma and/or TMJ.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his service connection claim for PTSD, finding that new and material evidence had not been received. The Veteran claimed he experienced stressors related to Vietnam service but VA determined there was no combat service in Vietnam and insufficient evidence to verify his reported stressors.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and insomnia disorder, was not incurred in or the result of his service, to include as secondary to a service-connected skin disability. The preponderance of evidence indicates that the condition is unrelated to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining outstanding federal prison records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and a new VA examination. The issues of service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, nightmare disorder, anxiety disorder, and alcohol dependence are on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder are at least as likely as not related to service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has been rated at 30 percent since April 28, 2011. The VA examiner found that the condition causes occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a skin condition.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities other than GAD has been dismissed because SMC pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) has been granted.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, including PTSD, has been rated at 70 percent since June 2010. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects his symptoms and impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as there is no current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including psychosis, non-psychotic depression, and anxiety, was not incurred or aggravated during service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD to include anxiety and insomnia is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records.