Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for generalized anxiety disorder with major depression was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has re-characterized the issue as service connection for PTSD, and the Veteran needs to provide evidence of a personal assault in service that caused his PTSD. The VA must also obtain additional records from SSA and VA treatment providers.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder and skin disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety and PTSD, are related to her in-service personal assaults. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disability related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by total and permanent impairment, warranting a 100% rating effective from the date of his claim on November 15, 2004.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any present psychiatric disorders, with specific attention to whether PTSD is related to in-service stressors involving fear of hostile military or terrorist activity.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence did not establish chronicity of a disease during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that he does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. The matter of service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD is remanded to the RO.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as generalized anxiety disorder. The Veteran's current symptoms are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Veteran was granted separate 10 percent evaluations for traumatic arthritis of the left knee in April 2003.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of service connection for an anxiety disorder secondary to multiple medical disorders and post-operative residuals of a right inguinal hernia are pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression. The issue regarding her right cystic ovary removal was not addressed as it is not a service connection claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information in previous examinations regarding whether the Veteran's mental disorders clearly and unmistakably pre-existed his service or were aggravated by it. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to address these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and medical records from Dr. Probst.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, SSA disability determination information, and a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD or other psychiatric disorders are related to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for scoliosis, cervical dorsolumbar paravertebral myositis (claimed as a back condition), and anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified. The decision found clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran's pre-existing scoliosis existed prior to her period of active duty service and was not aggravated by an injury sustained during INACDUTRA.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including providing VCAA notice regarding personal assault claims and obtaining additional medical records. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if his behaviors in service are consistent with his claimed personal assaults and whether he has an acquired psychiatric disorder resulting from such.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was evaluated as 30 percent disabling prior to April 27, 2010 and remains at that level. For the period from April 27, 2010, a higher evaluation of more than 50 percent is denied.