Anxiety decisions — 2000

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, but cannot assign an effective date earlier than November 1, 1996 due to the finality of a previous denial and lack of evidence establishing a direct link between the service-connected condition and the cause of death.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for depression, anxiety, and chronic fatigue, as well as PTSD. The evidence does not show that the veteran manifests PTSD due to an in-service stressor.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation and a total disability rating due to individual unemployability based on service-connected disabilities, finding that there was not enough evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease, finding that there is no persuasive medical evidence linking his current heart condition to his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for anxiety neurosis. The claims for service connection for PTSD, chronic lung disease as secondary to Agent Orange exposure, hypotesticularosteopenia or loss of bone mass, a mid and upper back disorder, human adjuvant disease with peripheral neuropathy as secondary to service-connected removal of the right testicle with testicular silicone implant; ulcers as secondary to medications prescribed for service-connected disability; and chronic fatigue syndrome are supported by cognizable evidence showing that they are plausible or capable of substantiation. The claim for service connection for hypothyroidism is not supported by cognizable evidence showing it is plausible or capable of substantiation.

The VA denied a higher rating for the veteran's service-connected anxiety reaction, currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for swollen joints, left foot disability, anxiety, low back disability, respiratory disorder, and lung disorder are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a current diagnosis or link to these conditions during or after active service.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to November 12, 1996, for a 100 percent disability evaluation for schizophrenic reaction with anxiety is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified, does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability evaluation based on his current symptoms and functioning.

The Board has granted service connection for an anxiety neurosis and continues the denial of service connection for defective hearing and TDIU.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for the service-connected psychiatric disability, including paranoid schizophrenia with post-traumatic stress disorder, prior to July 10, 1998. The effective date earlier than July 10, 1998 for a rating in excess of 70 percent was also denied.

The VA has denied the claims of increased evaluation for anxiety neurosis with psychotic features, service connection for prostate cancer with metastases, low back disorder, and headaches. The appellant's psychiatric condition is rated at 30 percent under the schedular criteria.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his anxiety reaction and chronic low back pain, prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment compatible with his training and experience.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, concluding that there was no evidence linking his service-connected psychiatric disability to his cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus.

The VA has denied an increased rating for the veteran's generalized anxiety disorder, citing considerable industrial impairment but not addressing his gunshot wound to the left shoulder or his claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting further examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD with panic disorder, agoraphobia, and generalized anxiety, as well as his right and left knee disorders.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder does not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 30 percent evaluation.

The veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for anxiety disorder and a TDIU were denied as the veteran failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Board has determined that the cause of death was not related to service-connected disability and denied all claims. The veteran's death was attributed to a ruptured aortic aneurysm, which is unrelated to any service-connected condition.

The Board denied a claim for an increased disability rating for anxiety neurosis and granted service connection for hypertension, but found that the kidney disorder was not related to the veteran's service-connected anxiety neurosis.