Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The left ear hearing loss disability was not found to warrant a compensable rating, while the head injury with chronic headaches claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to TBI was also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is not related to his military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a video hearing.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety disorder has been evaluated as a single condition, resulting in a 50 percent disability rating. The evidence does not support an increase to a higher rating.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain updated VA treatment records and conduct a new psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence and findings from the new examination.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with depression is currently rated at 70 percent, effective September 27, 2010. The Board finds that the symptoms do not more nearly approximate total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder and granted service connection, finding that new evidence supports a link between her in-service personal assault and her current anxiety disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD related to an in-service stressor and his acquired psychiatric disorders are not service-connected. The claim for increased rating for residuals of fourth and fifth finger fracture is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders other than PTSD are not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal of the claim of entitlement to service connection for prostate cancer has been withdrawn. The issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right hip disability and benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 are addressed in this remand.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as an anxiety disorder, and for migraine headaches on a secondary basis to the acquired psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS with alcohol abuse is currently rated at 30 percent, effective January 12, 2011. The rating has been granted and the claim for a higher initial evaluation remains in appellate status.

The Board has determined that there is no credible evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran did not engage in combat with an enemy or have a verified stressor related to his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's left ulnar nerve palsy is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating of 30 percent is warranted based on severe incomplete paralysis.,For his anxiety reaction with depressive disorder, the current 70 percent rating is maintained as it meets the criteria for this level of impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, classified as persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress. The Veteran's depression is found to be superimposed upon a pre-existing personality disorder that existed prior to service and was aggravated by events during military service.

The Veteran's mood disorder NOS and anxiety disorder NOS claimed as bipolar disorder/depression have been found to result in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records review. The issue of an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for anxiety disorder will be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including bipolar disorder and anxiety disorder. The VA examiner will provide an addendum opinion addressing whether any prior diagnoses were erroneous or in remission, and if so, whether they are related to service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his major depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, cannabis use disorder, and alcohol use disorder are not shown to be etiologically related to his active military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, primarily PTSD with features of anxiety and alcohol dependence, was found to more nearly approximate the criteria for total occupational and social impairment. The Board granted a higher initial rating of 30 percent for the period prior to October 16, 2012, but also noted that his remaining service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable.