Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is granted prior to March 26, 2007. However, his duodenal ulcer disease remains rated at 20 percent and no higher.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder, with mixed anxiety and depression, has been found to warrant a higher initial disability rating of 70 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received and a need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD with anxiety and depression is related to his military service, placing the evidence in equipoise and granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting medical evidence and a need for additional examinations.

The Board has ordered additional development to address the appellant's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and PTSD. The VA examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether any current psychiatric disability clearly and unmistakably pre-existed service and was not aggravated by active service beyond the normal progression of the disease, as well as whether at any point since April 2008, it is at least as likely as not that the appellant has had depression, anxiety disorder, dysthymia, and an adjustment disorder, and whether such disability is due to or the result of the appellant's active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, and schizoaffective disorder, had its onset during a period of active duty or ACDUTRA. As such, service connection is granted.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with secondary depressive disorder has been found to result in occupational and social impairment that more nearly approximates deficiencies in most areas, including work, social relations, and mood. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected Major Depressive Disorder with Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder since July 31, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for a scar of the right breast mass, status post gynecomastia removal, was withdrawn prior to the Board's decision. The remaining claims for service connection for PTSD and an umbilical hernia are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder has been granted a 70 percent evaluation, which is the highest schedular rating available for this condition. The sleepwalking issue remains unresolved and is considered 'unknown' in terms of service connection.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including unspecified depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and dysthymic disorder, are being reviewed for service connection. The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine the relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle strain disability is considered service-connected. The Veteran's psychiatric disability, characterized as PTSD with anxiety disorder and major depression, meets the criteria for a 30 percent rating but not higher.

The Veteran's depressive disorder and anxiety disorder are found to be attributable to service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder that was incurred in, or is otherwise the result of, his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the May 2016 VA medical opinion is inadequate and remanded for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records from Central Alabama VA HCS, requesting SSA disability benefits decision, and providing a VA examiner with an updated review of the evidence to provide opinions on whether any previously or currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disabilities began during service or were casually related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not render him incapable of securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including a social anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. The schizoaffective disorder is not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for anxiety disorder, but PTSD was not established. The claim for PTSD remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and to clarify which issues from the January 2009 notice of disagreement were intended to be appealed.