Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disability related to his active duty service, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The evidence is against a finding of such a connection.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a heart disability was withdrawn by the Veteran.,Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and PTSD.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and conduct a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for his psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA records. The case will be readjudicated after the development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, manifested by anxiety and depression, is related to service. The other claims are addressed below.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 2, 1969, for the award of service connection for PTSD and related symptoms including anxiety and depression is granted. The earliest possible effective date is based on when he initially filed his claim.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal through his authorized representative prior to the Board making a decision.

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 additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disorders and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including as due to service-connected anemia. The initial disability rating for anemia remains at 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and generalized anxiety. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has determined that there is no medical evidence establishing a link between the Veteran's current psychiatric, left knee, and headache conditions and his military service. The Veteran's claims for these disabilities are therefore denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD and anxiety disorder are service-connected, but his lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities are not. The Board granted a TDIU effective April 1, 2013.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, which includes anxiety disorder with depressive features and claustrophobia. The Veteran's history of mental health treatment in service is consistent with his current symptoms, raising a reasonable possibility of establishing service connection.

The Veteran's asthma and COPD are rated at a maximum of 100 percent, effective from January 30, 2002.,His MDD with generalized anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that none of the service-connected conditions contributed to the Veteran's cause of death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome has been granted. The remaining claims of service connection for various conditions have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records since June 2009. The TDIU issue remains on appeal.

The Veteran's hypertension has been rated as non-compensable due to the lack of documented diastolic pressure predominantly 100 mmHg or more, systolic pressure predominantly 160 mmHg or more, or a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 mmHg or more with blood pressure controlled by continuous medication.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety neurosis, schizoaffective disorder, and hiatal hernia have been granted. The initial rating of 10% for hiatal hernia has also been granted.