Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has granted an effective date of January 1, 2007 for the award of a total disability rating on the basis of individual unemployability (TDIU) and eligibility to Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA). The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since January 1, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety disorder, has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and the evidence does not support a finding that his anxiety disorder began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to flaws in a previous VA medical opinion, and the need for clarification of certain records.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including major depressive disorder. The examiner was asked to provide opinions on whether any diagnosed psychiatric disability is related to active service or caused by or aggravated by any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder was not reopened, while the right foot disability claim was reopened. The lumbar spine disability remains at a 20% rating, and the residuals of the right great toe injury remain at a 10% rating.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of facial skin cancer due to the death of the appellant, and the anxiety disorder was already granted.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of January 22, 1980 for the grant of service connection for PTSD and anxiety disorder. The Veteran's claim was based on new STRs obtained in August 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss prevented him from obtaining and sustaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, as well as a sleep disorder. The decision concludes that there is no current diagnosis of these conditions, and any alcohol abuse disorder is not service-connected due to its being related to a personality disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed depressive and anxiety disorders are causally related to his service-connected disabilities, specifically right knee, left knee, left shoulder strain, lumbar strain, and degenerative arthritis. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has denied service connection for a neck condition due to the lack of evidence of a current disability.,Service connection is remanded for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral lower extremities, and respiratory conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression with anxiety and chronic sleep impairment, as secondary to his service-connected shoulder disability. The evidence did not support a diagnosis of any formal mental condition under DSM-V criteria.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and right elbow epicondylitis were not incurred or aggravated in service, are not presumed service connected, and are not proximately due to or aggravated by her service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and schizophrenia as these conditions are not related to service.,Service connection was also denied for dementia due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Board denied service connection for chronic residuals of a left ankle sprain and a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and conversion disorder.

The Veteran's GERD and hiatal hernia were not incurred during service, nor are they related to his service-connected depressive and anxiety disorders. The Board denied the claim for service connection.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction was also not incurred during service and is not related to his service-connected depressive and anxiety disorders. The Board denied the secondary service connection claim.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral ankle condition is dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection for posterior tibial tendonitis. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety disorder) is denied, and the claim for increased rating for pes planus with bilateral fasciitis and hammertoes is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for mixed anxiety and depressed mood, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a back disability, and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been dismissed. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, and service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to a psychiatric disability. The Veteran's claim of PTSD is remanded due to the need for verification of his claimed stressor, while the issue of erectile dysfunction is remanded in conjunction with the psychiatric disability claim.