Anxiety decisions — 2000

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized private medical expenses incurred on March 9, 1998 is denied as he did not meet the criteria set forth in the law and regulations.

The Board has found new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD, which was previously denied in September 1981. The appellant now has diagnoses of PTSD and an anxiety disorder with PTSD symptoms linked to his military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder is granted, with the current evaluation of 30 percent being maintained.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted, with a combined evaluation of 70 percent effective from May 13, 1998. The specific conditions and issues are listed above.

The veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder results in significant mood and motivational disturbances, leading to moderate difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. The Board has granted an increased rating of 50 percent for this condition.

The Board granted a 10 percent evaluation for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, effective from February 19, 1997. The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable since December 14, 1995, due to the presence of mastoiditis and cholesteatoma. An effective date prior to December 14, 1995 for service connection on this condition was granted.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for the veteran's service-connected anxiety reaction, evaluating at 30 percent. The evidence did not show that the condition resulted in considerable impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety reaction warrants a 50 percent evaluation, effective from November 21, 1995.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral posterior subcapsular cataracts and COPD, all secondary to exposure to ionizing radiation. The VA Assistant Chief Medical Director found it unlikely that these conditions were related to the veteran's in-service exposure.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred for a myocardial infarction at St. Joseph Hospital were not covered by VA because the treatment was not for an adjudicated service-connected disability or a nonservice-connected disability associated with and held to be aggravating an adjudicated service-connected disability.

The veteran's claim for PTSD is not well-grounded, while his anxiety disorder is found to be incurred in service. The case is considered mixed due to the separate determinations.

The veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder with somatization manifested by pruritus ani has been granted, and he is currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected psychiatric disorder, characterized as anxiety disorder with PTSD symptoms, warrants an effective date of January 22, 1992 for a 100 percent disability rating.

The veteran's anxiety neurosis and neuritis of the left elbow were both granted increased evaluations.

The appellant's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another or at the housebound rate is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well-grounded and therefore denied.

The veteran's claims for PTSD and an increased rating for his anxiety disorder were denied. The Board found no credible evidence of the claimed in-service stressors, and thus service connection could not be established. His anxiety disorder is currently rated at 50%.

The veteran's generalized anxiety disorder resulted in increased anxiety, weekly panic attacks and decreased memory on or after May 26, 1998, which are productive of reduced reliability and productivity. The VA has granted a 50 percent evaluation for this condition effective from that date.

The Board found that the veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including anorexia/bulimia, generalized anxiety disorder, and personality disorder with psychotic features, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The case was remanded for further development.

The veteran's anxiety disorder, which is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, has been granted a 100 percent rating due to total occupational and social impairment.