Anxiety Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder were caused or aggravated by a personal assault in service. His allergies pre-existed entry into service and did not permanently increase in severity during service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the initial rating for Generalized Anxiety Disorder with Depressive Disorder not otherwise specified prior to and from May 25, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied as there is no current evidence of a right ear hearing loss disability or an acquired psychiatric disability, including panic disorder and anxiety. The Veteran's hypertension and skin rash disabilities are currently rated appropriately.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied, except for the left knee instability claim which was granted. The right flank disability remains at a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for anxiety disorder was denied as there is no evidence that a claim for this condition was received prior to November 19, 2003.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain medical records and provide a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, are related to his military service. The low back disability issue is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including urinary incontinence, spinal stenosis, anxiety disorder, and others, have prevented him from securing and maintaining gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's anxiety and depressive disorders have been rated based on their severity, with a current evaluation of 50 percent.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has not met the criteria for an increased rating beyond 20 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder NOS was granted an initial evaluation of 30 percent prior to October 19, 2011 and a subsequent increased evaluation of 50 percent effective on that date. The claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence on file for a decision, and ordered that the Veteran's complete VA and private treatment records be obtained. The claim will be reviewed after this additional development.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for further development to verify his reported stressors and obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature of any current psychiatric disorders, their etiology, and whether they are related to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, increased ratings for residuals of right ankle injury and myositis, and an earlier effective date for a rating increase were denied. The Veteran is not entitled to an earlier effective date than March 21, 2002, for the award of a 10 percent disability rating for his service-connected residuals of right ankle injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder NOS are attributable to her active military service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was productive of occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, but did not meet the criteria for a higher initial evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder, depression, OCD, and dementia, are related to his military service. The claim is granted.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression is rated at 50 percent disabling, which is the maximum rating available under the applicable diagnostic code. The appeal for a higher rating or TDIU was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder are being remanded due to the need for further development of his medical records and examination.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his claim for an increased rating for laryngeal cancer residuals and service connection for PTSD and MDD were both found to be without merit. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including a panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and mood disorder NOS, is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records, Social Security Administration records, and any relevant service personnel records.