Anxiety decisions — 2001

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder. The decision is based on direct evidence of a link between his military service and these conditions.

The veteran's service-connected anxiety neurosis and bilateral pes planus, without consideration of any other disabilities, render him unemployable. The Board grants a total disability evaluation for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD cannot be granted as there is no medical evidence establishing a direct link between his active military service and his current diagnosed conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to a TDIU rating due to his service-connected disabilities, which include psoriasis and postoperative melanoma. The combined rating for these conditions is 70 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder originated during his active military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected anxiety neurosis does not warrant a rating higher than 50 percent, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 70 or 100 percent evaluation.

The Board denied an increased rating for the service-connected anxiety disorder, currently evaluated as 50 percent disabling. The case is being remanded due to procedural issues and potential need for additional development.

The Board denied an effective date earlier than December 17, 1996 for the grant of a 100% evaluation for service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Board denied the motion to revise the April 3, 1984 decision on grounds of clear and unmistakable error for not meeting the requirement of actual employability established by clear and convincing evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and increased the evaluation of the veteran's anxiety reaction with depressive features to 50 percent.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the service-connected lumbosacral strain, effective from March 1992. The veteran's claim for financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or special home adaptation is referred to the RO for further action.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to care for his daily personal needs without assistance from others or unable to protect himself from the hazards and dangers of daily living, thus denying restoration of special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for prostate disorder, GAD and depression. The RO previously denied his claims to reopen his previously denied claims for dysthymia, schizoid personality and spinal arthritis.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine the severity of the veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and to address issues related to service connection for a back condition. The RO is also instructed to ensure that all notification and development required by the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 are completed.

The November 1997 RO rating decision denied service connection for numbness of the left hand and foot, anxiety, and a left knee condition. The veteran's claims were not well grounded as there was no evidence showing these conditions in service or due to service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his generalized anxiety disorder has been granted, with the effective date being February 23, 2001.

The veteran's appeal is on the issue of entitlement to a higher initial evaluation for an anxiety disorder, currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The RO has granted service connection and assigned the current rating but did not address the claim of service connection for PTSD. Additional development is needed including obtaining missing medical records and conducting further evidentiary development.

The veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder, with major depression and a cognitive disorder was granted a 70 percent rating effective January 9, 2001.

The Board dismissed the appeal because a timely Substantive Appeal was not filed with respect to the December 1999 rating decision assigning December 17, 1998 as the effective date of award of service connection for anxiety disorder.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, inadequate personality disorder, and PTSD. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or relationship to service.