Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's mental health condition, specifically depression and anxiety disorder NOS, is being remanded for additional development as the service treatment records related to his in-service symptoms are missing. A new VA examination will be scheduled to determine if these conditions were incurred during service or are related to in-service treatment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for seizures and anxiety are being remanded due to the inability to locate his service treatment records. He is asked to provide copies of any service treatment records in his possession, as well as identify all VA and private treatment records related to these conditions since discharge from service.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is due to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issue of bilateral hearing loss will be addressed in a separate remand.

The Veteran's asbestosis and acquired psychiatric disability are service-connected due to their relationship with his service-connected asbestosis. The subpleural pulmonary nodules are not related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed stressors could not be verified and his statements were inconsistent. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's psychiatric conditions are more likely related to personal trauma, such as a mining accident and loss of his father, rather than service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development, including a need for another VA examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disabilities and insomnia are pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finding that there was no credible supporting evidence of a verified in-service stressor and insufficient medical evidence linking current symptoms to military service.

The Board has remanded the case to allow the Veteran to attend a videoconference hearing and for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee replacements and other conditions such as anxiety disorder, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board grants the TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than October 31, 2005 for the grant of service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is granted. The earliest possible effective date is October 19, 1945.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of his acquired psychiatric disability and its impact on his employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders did not begin during his period of active duty for training (ADT) from September 2004 to March 2005, and therefore cannot be service connected based on this period. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is found to be incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a videoconference hearing before the Board. The issues of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, anxiety, right ear hearing loss, chondromalacia of both knees, and bilateral restless leg syndrome remain unresolved.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left wrist arthritis, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, anxiety disorder not otherwise specified, and alcohol dependence), and a higher rating for his service-connected left scaphoid fracture. The decision found no current evidence of arthritis or any other mental health condition for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a new examination to address the nature and etiology of his claimed psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current psychiatric disability, including whether any such disability is related to his active service. This includes obtaining deck logs from the U.S.S. John F. Kennedy for December 3, 1981, and arranging for a VA mental health examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's mental health disability, including anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and mood disorder, had its onset during service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder, and PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination or medical opinion regarding the relationship between his current psychiatric conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including consideration of a private medical opinion submitted after the Veteran's hearing. The appeal is not yet decided on the merits.