Anxiety decisions — 2001

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety, were not incurred or aggravated during his active service. The evidence does not show a nexus between any current psychiatric condition and his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for an anxiety disorder, which was previously denied in June 1972. The veteran now seeks to establish service connection for his current anxiety disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including a generalized anxiety disorder, are not related to his military service and therefore denied service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's hospitalization and medical services at the Johnston Memorial Hospital (JMH) from December 27 through 31, 1997 were not authorized by VA and were not rendered in a medical emergency of such nature that delay would have been hazardous to his life or health. Therefore, payment for these expenses is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional evidence developed and issues related to compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a bilateral eye disability, as well as the need to determine if the appellant's Notice of Disagreement was filed by an authorized person.

The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety disorder does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depression and generalized anxiety disorder, was not incurred in or related to his period of service. The Board found no evidence linking the current conditions to his military service.

The veteran's PTSD, formerly diagnosed as chronic anxiety state, is currently rated at 70 percent disabling. Service connection for hypertension secondary to PTSD has been granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his anxiety disorder, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a 50% evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for kidney stones and an increased rating for panic disorder with anxiety, finding that they were not well grounded. The RO is instructed to obtain additional medical records and schedule the veteran for examinations to determine the nature of his conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are denied as there is no current medical evidence of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease contributed substantially to his death, granting service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than July 10, 1998 for a 100 percent schedular evaluation for anxiety neurosis and a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that her pre-existing conditions did not worsen during service and were not related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, and increased evaluations for his nasal bone fracture and anxiety neurosis with history of PTSD. The RO confirmed and continued the noncompensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the appellant's character of discharge from service is a bar to VA benefits, as his discharge was for the good of the service with an undesirable discharge due to unauthorized absences and he did not meet the criteria for upgrading his discharge.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the veteran's dysthymic disorder with anxiety, effective March 23, 1998. The RO must attempt to obtain all relevant medical records and ensure that the new notification requirements of the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 are fully satisfied.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that there is no evidence of mitral insufficiency or arteriosclerotic heart disease. The claim for a compensable rating for psychoneurosis, anxiety state, remains pending.

The veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder was increased from a 30 percent to a 50 percent disability rating, effective December 30, 1998.