Anxiety Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, cervical spine disability, thoracic spine disability, left ankle disability, bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, and gastritis. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's panic disorder and anxiety are found to be secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PSD). The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for variously diagnosed psychiatric disorders and found that new evidence supports reopening the claim. The case is now remanded to determine if any of these conditions are related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the relationship between his service-connected PTSD and other psychiatric conditions, as well as whether he is unemployable due to his PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of qualifying active duty status during the Buffalo Creek Flood relief operation. The Veteran's National Guard service was not federalized, and thus did not qualify as active duty for VA benefits purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's reported stressors during his active duty as a corpsman at the United States Naval Hospital in Great Lakes, Illinois are credible and supported by medical evidence. The Board also found no other psychiatric disorders related to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety and depression, as there is no evidence establishing a nexus between his current psychiatric disorder and his active service.

The Veteran's GAD and depression are currently rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating. The Board finds that his disability picture does not warrant a higher evaluation due to the presence of significant cognitive impairment from nonservice-connected dementia.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, diagnosed as PTSD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, was incurred in service. The Board grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to assess the severity of his low back disability and psychiatric conditions, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations. The TDIU claim will be deferred pending completion of this additional development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, depression, anxiety) and sleep deprivation were denied. The Board found that there is no current evidence of a diagnosed sleep deprivation disability or any persistent symptoms thereof. Additionally, the Board determined that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disability related to his service. As such, the claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to unsuccessful attempts to verify a reported sexual assault stressor and to obtain evidence of an arrest for DWI. The Veteran is also asked to provide information about his anxiety disorder.

The Veteran seeks payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private facility. The VAMC will review the case under both the Millennium Bill Act and 38 U.S.C.A. § 1728, considering all evidence of record, including the November 20, 2007 treatment records from Florida Hospital Flagler.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder is related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for variously diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, is denied as there is no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor and the diagnoses are not related to service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, but generally functioning satisfactorily.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including major depression with mood disorder, PTSD, and an anxiety disorder, were not incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as a panic disorder with agoraphobia, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found no continuity of symptomatology and the evidence did not establish a nexus between active duty service and current symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as anxiety disorder not otherwise specified. The claims for hypertension, low back pain, and leg cramps are remanded for additional development.