Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with various psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, which are linked to stressors he experienced during service. The Board finds that these diagnoses meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's AWOL period was due to an acquired psychiatric disability. The appeal will be returned to the AOJ for readjudication.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for further development, including a new VA examination to assess her psychiatric disability and its impact on her ability to work.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and an addendum opinion is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, depression as secondary to PTSD, and sleep disorder as secondary to PTSD. Service connection is denied for anxiety and panic attacks as secondary to PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's anxiety and cognitive disorders are not related to his active service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with anxiety and depression is rated at 30 percent prior to February 20, 2013, and at 50 percent from February 20, 2013 to August 25, 2016.,The Veteran is also entitled to a TDIU rating due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is required due to outstanding VA mental health treatment records and a comprehensive VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and their relationship to his psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective the date of claim. The left knee chondromalacia is rated at 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and dysthymia, did not have a direct link to his military service. The evidence does not support an in-service stressor or show that any diagnosed conditions are related to service.

The Veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal, including those seeking service connection for various conditions and disabilities. The Board does not have jurisdiction to further consider these matters.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for the above issues, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70 percent evaluation prior to August 9, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD based on a confirmed in-service stressor or evidence of anxiety and depression having onset during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining additional medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for various psychiatric disorders are inextricably intertwined with her TDIU claim.

The Board has resolved all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, finding that he meets the criteria for service connection for major depressive disorder and anxiety. However, there is no evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD based on verified stressors.

The Veteran's GAD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective February 20, 2007. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty understanding complex commands, and impaired judgment.