Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a generalized anxiety disorder has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected chronic adjustment disorder and determine whether he has any other psychiatric conditions with distinguishable symptoms from his service-connected condition. Additionally, a VA audiological examination should be conducted to determine if the Veteran currently experiences left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the nature and likely etiology of his psychiatric disabilities, including whether they are related to service or caused by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, with no changes in rating. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for asbestosis and obsessive compulsive disorder are not addressed due to the mixed disposition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and other psychiatric conditions are service-connected, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the claimant.

The Veteran's polycythemia vera is related to his service, as are the secondary conditions of fatigue, bone pain, dementia, major depression with anxiety, hypertension, transient ischemic attacks (TIA), heart failure, anemia, pre-syncope, renal insufficiency and headaches.,Osteoarthritis and disc degeneration of the cervical spine are also related to his service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a left shoulder disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder or stomach condition, and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions.,Regarding bilateral hearing loss, the evidence does not meet the criteria for a current disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and nerve disease, but denied them on the merits. The heart condition claim is also addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorders have been rated at 50 percent since February 23, 2016. The effective date of this rating is May 2, 2014.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder NOS and panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, are not shown to be etiologically related to his active duty service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and depression, is not related to his time in service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Board has ordered a remand for additional development due to the need for medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder prior to January 24, 2017, and a rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected headaches. The effective date for TDIU was also not granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was shown to warrant a 10 percent rating March 28, 2016, but no earlier. The criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss have not been met.,The weight of the competent evidence of record is against a finding that the Veteran has depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood as a result of his military service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with PTSD features is currently rated at 30 percent, the minimum rating for this condition. The evidence does not support a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need to obtain additional information from the Veteran.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and panic disorder were found to have its clinical onset during his period of active service. The claim for PTSD was denied as the Veteran did not meet all the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder has been rated at 70 percent since February 3, 2000.,Effective from February 3, 2000, the Veteran is granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder has been rated at 70 percent since July 7, 2016.,Prior to July 7, 2016, the Veteran was granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disability.