Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety, depression, and PTSD was denied as there is no competent medical evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's GAD was rated at 50 percent for the period from November 21, 2003 to November 11, 2009. The appeal for a higher rating of 70 percent was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other conditions, is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and verify a reported stressor.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety disorder, residuals of cold injury to the right foot, and cold injury to the right hand with an effective date of January 23, 2012. The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance is denied.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, diagnosed as generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, is not manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. The Board has determined that the criteria for a rating greater than 50 percent have not been met.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected acne vulgaris with scarring caused or aggravated his diagnosed bipolar disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA mental disorders examination to determine if the Veteran's depressive disorder with anxiety alone makes him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD, is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or after service, and the current diagnoses are not related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of August 7, 2007, for the grant of Individual Unemployability (IU) secondary to PTSD with chronic anxiety is granted. The criteria were met as his service-connected disability alone was sufficient to produce unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD as secondary to service-connected conditions, has been reopened. The evidence now includes new and material information that suggests the Veteran may have developed these conditions during or related to his military service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding all issues on appeal, including those related to service connection for various conditions and exposure claims.

The Board denied increased ratings for right and left foot plantar fasciitis, finding that the Veteran's disability did not meet or approximate criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was granted, but no specific effective date was assigned as it is related to reopening his claim on new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and requesting a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, arranging a new examination, and clarifying representation status.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder was incurred during wartime service and granted service connection for this condition. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a right foot disorder other than hammertoes and corns, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left ulnar neuropathy are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected anxiety disorder and recurrent right wrist wart, as well as their impact on employment and daily activities. The RO/AMC will also obtain any outstanding treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current tinnitus or dementia with major depression and anxiety related to service. The claim for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as anxiety disorder not otherwise specified with PTSD traits and alcohol/cocaine abuse in remission, is not due to or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for the service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, effective January 4, 2011, based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.