Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety, a panic disorder depression, an adjustment disability, and posttraumatic stress disorder was granted. The TDIU issue is also addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and further medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional evidence and provide an addendum opinion regarding her psychiatric conditions. The AOJ will review the claims folder to ensure all requested development has been completed.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a present psychiatric disability, specifically anxiety disorder and PTSD. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, depression NOS, panic disorder, and agoraphobia. The Board also denied service connection for an abnormal leg movement disability, claimed as restless leg syndrome, due to the lack of evidence showing it was related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service connection claim for cervical spine DJD is granted. The Board finds that arthritis in the Veteran's cervical spine was manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service, warranting service connection.

For the period prior to May 13, 2014, the Veteran's anxiety disorder caused significant occupational and social impairment.,Effective May 13, 2014, his condition was rated at 100 percent due to a progression of his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and cause of the appellant's claimed disabilities, including whether they occurred during active duty service or other periods for which she would be entitled to compensation as a veteran.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 70 percent disabling. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects his symptoms and impairment, but granted a higher rating for other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and secure substantial gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for TDIU on a schedular basis from November 29, 2011 due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board grants TDIU on this basis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis under DSM-IV and whether any current psychiatric disability is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including evaluating whether his anxiety and depressive disorders are related to his service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity from March 18, 2010 to September 28, 2010. From September 28, 2010 to November 4, 2010, the Veteran received treatment for her psychiatric disorder in a VA hospital. From November 4, 2010 to June 18, 2015, she was rated at 30 percent disabling due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The claim is denied as of June 18, 2015.

The Board finds that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder is reasonably shown to be related to his service-connected neuropathic pain of a scar, status post umbilical hernia repair. As such, the claim for secondary service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric condition, manifested by major depression with anxiety, is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for hypertension will be remanded as it may be related to exposure to herbicides during service in Southwest Asia. The TDIU claim will also be remanded due to the grant of service connection for a psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case for a determination on whether the Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder precludes him from securing and following gainful employment, due to his mental health impairment. The case will be returned to the AOJ after this determination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining verification of stressors and obtaining a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychological disorder, including PTSD, depression and anxiety is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with mood disorder NOS and anxiety/panic disorder with agoraphobia resulted in total occupational and social impairment as of June 15, 2011. The effective date for the 100% disability rating is set to June 15, 2011.