Anxiety decisions — 2003

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for reopening service connection for anxiety neurosis, right knee injury, and left kidney disability due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain complete medical records and schedule a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the veteran has a current mental disability resulting from a psychiatric disorder other than a personality disorder that had its onset in active service.

The veteran's service-connected psychophysiologic gastrointestinal reaction is currently rated at 10 percent and the claim for increased rating has been granted. However, TMJ dysfunction was not considered as part of his gastrointestinal condition.

The Board granted service connection for dysthymic and anxiety disorders effective September 22, 2002, based on new evidence submitted by the veteran's representative.

The Board has granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and denied service connection for an allergic condition diagnosed as allergic rhinosinusitis. The claim for service connection for tonsillitis (throat condition) was previously denied, but the veteran's representative indicated that he is seeking to reopen this claim.,Service connection for a throat condition (tonsillitis) has been granted.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability were denied due to the RO finding that he was not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board also found that he could not have been continuously rated as totally disabled for a period of ten years immediately preceding death.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for an effective date of August 21, 1985 for TDIU (Total Disability based either on a 100 percent schedular rating for anxiety disorder or individual unemployability), resolving any dispute in favor of the veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for an anxiety disorder and a higher rating for the right scrotal cyst.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including depression, anxiety, memory problems, lack of concentration, PTSD, varicose veins, jungle rot, bilateral leg disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral foot disability, migraine headaches, and sleep disorder. The reasons provided were that there was insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Board in March 1991 denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death. The appellant is challenging this decision on grounds of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety with insomnia.

The veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a higher rate of special monthly compensation by reason of the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the veteran's accounts of mortar attacks and seeing several comrades wounded during service are consistent with his combat status. The case is being remanded for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, have their onset during service or are causally related to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for anxiety neurosis, and it is now reopened. The veteran's anxiety disorder may be related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for interstitial cystitis as secondary to the veteran's service-connected inflammatory bowel disease. The issue of an increased evaluation for generalized anxiety disorder remains pending and is not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to clarify the veteran's current psychiatric diagnoses and their relationship to his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if the veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability contributed to his fatal coronary artery disease, and whether this condition was caused by or contributed substantially to his death.

The Board has granted a 100 percent schedular rating for the veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder and PTSD, effectively resolving the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The VA has granted service connection for anxiety disorder and assigned a 30 percent disability evaluation, effective September 26, 2001. The veteran's anxiety disorder is currently manifested by episodic depression, anxiety, anger/irritability, and sleep impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and major depression, recurrent.