Anxiety decisions — 2002

The veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids were granted a 20 percent rating from August 18, 1992 to October 21, 1996. The issue of an increased rating for her chronic anxiety disorder with depressive features and history of somatoform disorder remains in appellate status.

The Board concluded that the veteran is not entitled to a rating in excess of 30 percent for generalized anxiety disorder with depressive features and allergic rhinosinusitis.

The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claims for Organic Anxiety Disorder and Seizure Disorder, both claimed as secondary to a Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus vaccine administered in service. The claims were denied because there is no medical evidence showing that these conditions are related to the vaccine.

The VA has determined that the appellant's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder does not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD with anxiety and depression did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to November 9, 1999 or in excess of 50 percent from that date.

The Board found that the veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes, as they are not severe enough to prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's service-connected depressive reaction with anxiety and painful thoracic kyphosis resulted in a temporary total evaluation based on hospitalization for the full period of treatment.

The VA denied the appellant's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected anxiety reaction, currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of the veteran's disability.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including a depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. The evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred during active military service.

The Board found that the veteran's current psychiatric diagnoses are not related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder, finding that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder warrants a 70 percent rating, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder incurred in service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected psychiatric condition did not cause or contribute to his death. The conditions leading to his death were not related to his military service and are not otherwise due to such service.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected anxiety reaction, which is the maximum schedular evaluation available.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected anxiety and depressive reaction, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to May 24, 2001 or 50 percent beginning May 24, 2001.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. His anxiety disorder was rated at 50%, and his shell fragment wounds to the right chest, apex of heart, and liver were all rated as noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety disorder is not related to his retained surgical needle, which he received under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in March 1991.

The Board has granted service connection for dysthymia with anxiety, claimed as secondary to the veteran's service-connected asthmatic bronchitis. The claim for an increased rating for asthmatic bronchitis was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's generalized anxiety disorder did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to September 22, 1999 and for a rating in excess of 70 percent as of and since September 22, 1999.