Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran has been granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety, depression, and PTSD, which was incurred as a result of active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's vertigo and psychiatric disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor proximately due to a service-connected disability. Therefore, these claims are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for major depression and generalized anxiety disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records prior to August 2006 and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for PTSD will also be expanded to include other psychiatric disorders such as anxiety disorder and depressive disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder, psychiatric disorders (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety), right knee disorder, left knee disorder, GERD with Barrett's esophagus, and hemorrhoids. The appeals are dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not proximately caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or error in judgment. The cause of death is considered to be suicide.

The Board found that an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD with depression and alcoholism, was not incurred in or aggravated by military service. The Veteran's sinusitis has not been shown on X-ray evidence to meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a follow-up opinion from the November 2009 VA examiner.

For the portion of the appeal period extending from January 25, 2008 to April 6, 2010, the Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorder have been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.,For the portion of the appeal period extending from April 7, 2010 forward, the Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorder has been productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with depressive features is rated at 70 percent since March 20, 2003. The effective date for this rating remains to be determined as the claim was originally filed in 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA psychiatric examination and the acquisition of SSA records associated with an April 2008 decision. The issues of entitlement to increased rating for anxiety disorder and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's depression is as likely as not attributable to a traumatic event during her military service, in particular, a reported sexual assault, or as likely as not was caused or has been exacerbated by her service-connected Diabetes Mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are of such severity as to preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for automobile and adaptive equipment, special home adaptation, and specially adapted housing were denied as he is not service-connected for any conditions that would qualify him under the criteria set forth in VA regulations.

The Veteran's mental disorder is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the likelihood of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including adjustment disorder with depressed mood and anxiety and anxiety disorder NOS, are related to her service in the Persian Gulf War. The claim for PTSD is denied due to lack of a diagnosis.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and chronic acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorder are all found to have been incurred in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression with anxiety is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office for further action, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The TDIU claim will be deferred until these other claims are addressed.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder not otherwise specified (NOS) with dysthymic disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher initial disability rating beyond 30 percent.