Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's anxiety reaction has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.

The Board is remanding the claims of increased rating for anxiety disorder, service connection for PTSD, service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease as secondary to anxiety disorder, and service connection for tinnitus due to procedural deficiencies in notification. The Veteran will need a VA examination to clarify his mental health diagnoses and determine if there is a separate diagnosis of PTSD. A VA examination will also be needed to assess the etiology of the Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if service connection can be established for a back injury, bilateral hearing loss, or an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the possibility of additional diagnoses.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and determined that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran is currently diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, all related to his active service.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent, which meets the criteria for a TDIU. The Board finds that his disability has resulted in total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to service or any in-service disease or injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's nervous disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks and alcohol dependence, are found to be secondary to service-connected disabilities. Service connection for hypertension is also granted as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability (claimed as sleeplessness, anxiety, chills symptoms, depression, nightmares and war intrusive thoughts) was granted. The Veteran also received a compensable evaluation (20%) for his bilateral hearing loss from December 30, 2008.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's depression with anxiety is currently rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The condition has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including recurrent major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. The lung disorder claim is denied as there is no separate diagnosis.

The Veteran was granted a 50% disability rating for his service-connected GAD effective March 22, 2005. The Board found that an earlier effective date is warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is causally linked to an in-service car accident, and thus service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the medical opinions are against a finding that any diagnosed conditions are related to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric pathology. The Veteran's participation in air combat support is accepted as valid.

The Veteran's claims for psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, inguinal hernias, Achilles tendonitis of the right foot, plantar fasciitis of the left foot, thoracic spine condition, erectile dysfunction, bilateral knee condition, and skin condition (psoriasis, warts, abscesses, cysts) have been reopened. Service connection has not been established for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examiner's opinion on whether the Veteran's anxiety disorder is related to service or pre-existed service.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric diagnosis and service connection issues.