Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an addendum medical opinion and a VA examination to address whether any psychiatric disability is related to active service or specifically related to his reported stressors during service.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and coronary artery disease are currently rated at 70 percent, effective April 18, 2014. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including nightmare disorder, anxiety disorder, panic disorder, psychotic disorder, depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder, did not have their onset during either period of active duty service. The Board also determined that these conditions were not otherwise related to either period of service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression and anxiety is granted as the evidence supports a finding that these conditions are related to his Reserve service. The initial compensable rating for residuals of basal cell carcinoma, rated as an excision scar on the neck, is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, right foot disability, left shoulder disability, and acquired psychiatric disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disorder, left knee disorder and skin disorder have been pending since their initial filing in May 1987. The RO denied these claims in November 1987, but the Veteran perfected an appeal on her own initiative. However, no action was taken by VA to transfer the case to the Board for appellate review. As a result, the effective date of service connection is being determined based on when entitlement arose with respect to the May 1987 claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new psychiatric examination and etiological opinion, as well as additional development of the record.

The Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, meet the criteria for a 70% rating since February 26, 2016. Effective August 24, 2010, he is now eligible for TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is associated with anxiety and depression, which are considered together under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The Board has granted service connection for adjustment disorder, anxiety disorder, and depression as separate diagnoses from his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder) due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during the Veteran's active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability(ies) and abnormal leg movement disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right shoulder rotator cuff strain and associated conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of June 2, 2009. Effective July 1, 2011, the Veteran was granted TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 23, 1991 for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied. The Board finds no basis upon which the grant of TDIU would be warranted at this time.

The Board found that the Veteran's right testicle disorder and acquired psychiatric disability, other than PTSD, were not incurred in or related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to an inadequate VA examination and failure to consider the appellant's statements about fear of hostile military or terrorist activity.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of whether his employment qualifies as a protected work environment.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety, and depressive disorder, is not related to service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran has a current back disability, to include degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, but it did not become manifest within one year after service separation.