Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, now diagnosed as PTSD and depressive disorder, resulted in reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as impairment of memory; disturbances of motivation and mood; and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. The Board found that the evidence supported a 50 percent rating based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for generalized anxiety disorder and recurrent major depression, as well as a TDIU rating, were denied by the Board.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, in combination, affect him in such a way that he is precluded from performing either sedentary or physical work. The Board grants entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, GAD, OCD, bipolar disorder NOS, and schizoaffective disorder, are found to have had their onset during ACDUTRA service and have recurred since then.

The Board found that the Veteran's strongyloides infection did not have its onset in service and was not related to his service-connected conditions. The cause of death, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), is considered immediate rather than contributory.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to schedule a travel board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after scheduling the hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to ensure that he is accorded full compliance with the statutory duty to assist, including verifying his claimed stressors and obtaining additional information regarding these events from him.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to conflicting medical opinions and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination to determine whether the Veteran currently has PTSD related to his reported stressors. The claim for tinnitus is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD. The issue regarding the temporary total disability rating due to prostate cancer surgery has been withdrawn by the Veteran. The Veteran's anxiety disorder remains at 50 percent and is pending further review.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since January 28, 2013, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including current examinations and a determination of whether the Veteran's non-service-connected disabilities render him permanently and totally disabled.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found that the claimed stressor was not verified and thus did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and mental health conditions (claimed as anxiety and depression) are not related to service, including an in-service stressor. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's arthritis of bilateral upper and lower extremities did not manifest in service, within one year of service, or is related to service. The Board also found that her gout was not incurred in service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, was incurred in active service.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and service connection was denied. His anxiety disorder NOS is rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 9413. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were also not granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for anxiety disorder, NOS, prior to June 1, 2011, and in excess of 50 percent from then on; service connection for PTSD; service connection for depression; service connection for bilateral hearing loss; and service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and work background.