Anxiety Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking these disabilities to his period of active military service.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, effective January 6, 2011. His bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability evaluation.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including an anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, are found to be caused by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disabilities were not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and PTSD, is found to be aggravated by his service-connected seizure disorder. His hypertension is also found to be aggravated by his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD. The anxiety disorder has been productive of complaints including occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks due to symptoms such as anxiety and chronic sleep impairment.,Throughout the rating period on appeal, the Veteran's shrapnel wound injury to muscle group VIII of the right elbow was productive of complaints of pain and fatigability, with a retained shrapnel fragment that did not penetrate the joint space, no muscle atrophy, no loss of range of motion, no loss of muscle strength, and was not more than moderate in severity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and extent of his psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and the severity of his service-connected left arm shell fragment wound residuals.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including anxiety disorder and dysthymic disorder, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence did not show a current disability during service or within one year of separation, nor was there sufficient medical evidence to establish a link between his military service and these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar ankylosing spondylitis, bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, and anxiety disorder NOS with pain disorder were denied. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anxiety reaction with a history of PTSD and multiple physical impairments, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board grants the TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and PTSD have been evaluated based on their current manifestations, with the anxiety disorder rated at 30 percent from May 23, 2008 to September 25, 2011, and PTSD rated at 50 percent from September 26, 2011. The Veteran's conditions have not met criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for initial consideration of the reopened claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's claim encompasses any psychiatric disorder.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability including PTSD, anxiety, and depression; a cervical spine disability; a lumbar spine disability; and residuals of a head injury (including headaches) due to in-service trauma.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current chronic maxillary sinusitis and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's headaches are found to be related to her military service, and she is granted service connection for this condition. The Board finds the evidence insufficient to establish a direct link between her anxiety and major depression and her military service.

The case is being remanded to the RO for additional clarification on whether the Veteran's depression is causally related to service. The AMC/RO must ensure that all development actions have been conducted and completed in full.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining the Veteran's personnel records and scheduling a VA examination. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further development and clarification of his claims.