Anxiety decisions — 2000

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the veteran's anxiety neurosis from April 1, 1998 and found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to that date.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety disorder and assigned a 30 percent disability rating for tinea pedis. The issue of increased evaluation for tinea pedis remains denied.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for myopia, hearing loss and tinnitus, and anxiety disorder are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for high cholesterol and headaches, anxiety, night sweats, and flashbacks (claimed as secondary to service-connected hypertension) due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions are related to his active duty service or service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety disorder and agoraphobia were aggravated by wartime service, allowing for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, nervous disability to include anxiety and depression, and a hand falling asleep, shaking and dizziness are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of an inservice head injury or any current disabilities related to such an injury.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder including schizophrenic reaction, schizoid personality disorder, immature personality disorder, major depression, anxiety disorder, and dysthymia. The evidence did not support a finding of a nexus between current psychiatric disorders and military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD with features of depressive disorder and general anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records, including recent outpatient and inpatient treatment records. A new VA psychiatric examination will also be conducted.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the service-connected anxiety disorder with panic attacks, effective from the date of the decision. The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the veteran's current nervous disorder is not due to a disease or injury incurred in service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected anxiety with major depression is found to meet the criteria for a total disability evaluation due to its impact on his ability to work.

The case is being remanded for additional development of the veteran's VA mental health treatment records. The RO will request information about the periods of time during which the veteran received treatment at the VA outpatient mental hygiene clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, claimed as depression/anxiety is not well grounded due to a lack of evidence showing a diagnosed psychiatric condition incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The veteran's headaches are not rated higher than 10 percent.,Other conditions, including muscle and joint pains, bleeding gums, rash, weight gain, and psychiatric disability, do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The veteran's chronic headaches are rated at 10 percent, while his anxiety disorder is currently rated as 10 percent. The decision on the increased rating for headaches remains pending.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected post-traumatic encephalopathy with anxiety disorder warrants a 50 percent rating, effective December 20, 1993.

The veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD and a compensable evaluation for hearing loss. The claim for hearing loss was withdrawn, but the issue of PTSD remains under review by the Board.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well grounded, as there was no competent medical evidence linking his claimed conditions to his military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depression, PTSD, and generalized anxiety with phobia, have rendered him unemployable. The Board finds that the combined rating of 70% for these conditions is sufficient to meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.