Anxiety decisions — 2002

The Board found no evidence of a chronic neuropsychiatric disorder during service and concluded that the veteran's current generalized anxiety disorder did not begin in service. For urinary tract infection, there was no record of such condition during active duty or post-service years, and the examiner could not relate it to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for TDIU benefits, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's anxiety disorder, manifested by panic attacks and associated physical symptoms such as sweaty palms and chest pain, results in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board has granted a 50 percent disability rating for the veteran's anxiety disorder.

The veteran's PTSD with anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and cognitive disorders are currently evaluated at 50 percent. The RO also granted an effective date of July 13, 1998 for the grant of service connection for anxiety disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation to 70 percent for his acquired psychiatric disability, specifically generalized anxiety disorder. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The RO denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 27, 2001, for a 50 percent rating for his service-connected schizoaffective disorder, depressive type with significant anxiety.

The veteran's death was caused by a combination of service-connected conditions, including his anxiety neurosis and gunshot wound residuals, as well as other significant conditions like severe malnutrition and tuberculosis. The Board found that these conditions contributed substantially to the cause of death.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and anxiety reaction with depressive and hypochondriacal features, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a TDIU rating based on these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder and hypertension, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and a higher disability evaluation, finding that no new or material evidence had been submitted to reopen his previously denied service connection claim.

The Board has granted a 100 percent disability evaluation for the veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder, finding that his condition meets the criteria for such an evaluation due to its severe impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depression and anxiety disorder are etiologically related to his period of active military service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's psychiatric disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder and depression, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for anxiety neurosis, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an increased rating for his psychiatric disorder. The claim for PTSD was denied due to a lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors actually occurred, as the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy during service. The claim for an increased rating for psychoneurosis, anxiety state, was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence of a nexus between her current conditions and active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, concluding that his generalized anxiety disorder did not contribute substantially or materially to his death from coronary artery disease.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected anxiety neurosis, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's combined service-connected disability rating is 80 percent, which meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU. The Board finds that his service-connected disabilities render him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected major depressive and generalized anxiety disorders meet the criteria for a 100 percent evaluation, effective from March 22, 2001. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability is denied.