Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to determine if his current anxiety and depression disorders are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and development due to inadequate medical evidence in previous decisions.

The Board found that the Veteran does not currently demonstrate an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety, which first manifested within one year of separation from service and is related to his service or to any incident therein.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of head trauma. However, the claims were denied as there is no medical evidence showing a current disability related to her service.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and psychiatric treatment records from the Veteran's hospitalization in November 1998. A VA examiner will provide an opinion on whether any service-connected disabilities contributed to the Veteran's cause of death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining service personnel records and VA medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical evidence regarding the appellant's current condition and its impact on her ability to require regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, traumatic arthritis of the left knee, and a psychiatric disability including anxiety, depression, and psychosis. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of November 18, 2004 for the grant of service connection for IBS has been granted. The issues of increased evaluation for IBS and for a psychological disability, and TDIU are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board denied service connection for dermatophytosis of the right foot, residuals of frostbite to include infection of toenails, and an acquired psychiatric disorder including depressive disorder, not otherwise specified. The Veteran's dermatophytosis was found not related to service or a service-connected condition. Residuals of frostbite were also found not related to service or a service-connected condition. The Board concluded that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder is not related to his service-connected rhinosinusitis.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis, lumbar strain, left knee chondromalacia, right knee status post operative arthroscopy, chondromalacia patella, and anxiety disorder are currently evaluated at the 10 percent level. The Board finds that an increased rating is not warranted for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from SSA and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for schizoid personality disorder or anxiety disorder. The claim is therefore denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 1, 1985 to January 30, 1989 for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The Board found that the evidence does not show a nexus between his current psychiatric disability and his period of service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete verification of stressors and need for additional medical records. The Veteran's claim for PTSD will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for clarification of a claimed stressor and further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total rating for compensation purposes based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the lack of evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board also noted that the Veteran had not demonstrated an exceptional or unusual disability picture as required for entitlement to TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied by the Board, and his increased rating claim for PTSD was also denied. The case is being remanded to obtain additional VA examinations and to ensure all relevant records are obtained.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for syncope, increased ratings for social anxiety/depression and hemorrhoids, and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a chronic disability manifested by syncopal episodes during the appeal period. For her psychiatric disabilities, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a 30 percent or higher rating throughout the appeal period. Her hemorrhoids were rated appropriately based on their severity and stage. Lastly, her allergic rhinitis did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.