Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since June 16, 2009. The Board found that the current level of disability warrants a 100 percent rating due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of a claimed stressor and examination of his left knee.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating. The criteria for a higher rating have not been met.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD and anxiety disorder, was caused by his service. The Board finds that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for a psychiatric disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxiety is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's current psychiatric symptoms indicate serious symptoms, characterized by persistent suicidal ideation and isolation. The Board has determined that a 70 percent rating is warranted for his acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder).

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that there was no credible evidence of in-service stressors or a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to verify his duty status with the Michigan Army National Guard (ARNG) from December 1986 to October 1992, and to attempt to verify additional stressors for PTSD. The VA examiner will provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during a period of active duty or is related to his service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety disorder. The evidence received since the November 2007 rating decision relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate a claim for service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders, to include PTSD and anxiety. The case will be reviewed again after all necessary actions are completed.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for additional development, including a new VA mental disorders examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder with depressive symptoms and sub-threshold PTSD symptoms. The appeal was reopened due to new evidence provided by the Veteran, which related to his experiences in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder is granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depression and generalized anxiety disorder, are found to be related to his active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disabilities, including bipolar disorder, mood disorder not otherwise specified, and general anxiety disorder, are less likely than not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient development and need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of diabetes mellitus and psychiatric disorders.