Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression and anxiety is being remanded as there may be an underlying service-connected condition that could affect his mental health. The right foot disability claim is also being remanded, with a request for in-patient clinical records from Fort Carson.,The Veteran's left foot disability claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development including in-patient clinical records and psychiatric examination.,The Veteran's right foot disability claim is being remanded as it may be related to his pre-existing left foot disability.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorder were found to be at least as likely as not caused by his military service, specifically his role as a military policeman in Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of January 30, 1995 for his service connection for major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder. The claim was based on direct service connection and there is no evidence prior to this date that can be construed as a formal or informal claim.

The Veteran's claims for a higher evaluation for tinnitus and service connection for PTSD were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for separate schedular ratings for bilateral tinnitus, as such disability is already at its maximum rating of 10 percent. For his psychiatric disorder claim, the Board noted that VA had not obtained all relevant mental health treatment records and that a VA examination was needed to determine if PTSD or other psychiatric disorders were linked to service.

The Board found no evidence of a current acquired psychiatric disorder related to the Veteran's active duty service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the appellant and additional medical records are needed. A VA opinion is requested regarding whether alcohol abuse caused or contributed substantially to the Veteran's death, and if so, whether it was related to a psychiatric disability and/or PTSD due to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records from the Veteran's second period of active duty and VA mental health records. The Veteran will also be scheduled for a VA mental health examination to determine the etiology of his current psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with depression is productive of total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a neck disability, and an initial rating for anxiety disorder in excess of 30%. The Board found that there was no diagnosis of PTSD meeting DSM-IV criteria. For the neck disability, the Board concluded that there was insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the current condition and service or the service-connected right upper arm disability. For the anxiety disorder, the Board noted that the Veteran's claim for an increased rating did not meet the criteria.

The Veteran's disabilities, including anemia, hemorrhoids, hypertension, mild cataracts, pancolitis, positive testing for tuberculosis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), anxiety, and alcohol abuse, do not permanently preclude him from engaging in all forms of substantially gainful employment consistent with his age, education, and work experience.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for an anxiety disorder and a gastrointestinal disorder. The appellant's currently diagnosed anxiety disorder is found to be attributable to his active military service, raising a reasonable doubt in favor of service connection.,Service connection is granted for the aggravation of the appellant's GERD secondary to his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and obtaining SSA records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, associated with herbicide exposure, does not prevent him from securing and following any form of substantially gainful employment.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder to his military service, and thus denied the claim.

The Veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development of the record, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records, including VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits documentation.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, finding that there is no medical evidence or research to indicate a causal relationship between his service-connected disabilities (tinnitus, hearing loss, and residuals of a shrapnel wound) and his current psychiatric condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional evidentiary development due to new evidence submitted by the appellant and a newly granted service connection for an anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is denied as there is no competent evidence linking any current psychiatric disability to service.