Anxiety decisions — 2003

The veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for generalized anxiety disorder was dismissed due to his death.

The Board has decided another issue on appeal and is remanding the veteran's claim for service connection for a cardiovascular disorder, status post surgeries with chronic pain secondary to his service connected anxiety disorder due to new regulations under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has determined that the appellant's generalized anxiety disorder is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's generalized anxiety disorder, diagnosed during service, is related to his period of active duty. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, tinea versicolor, soft tissue sarcoma, porphyria cutanea, and peripheral neuropathy due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's generalized anxiety disorder warrants a 70 percent evaluation, reflecting significant impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and PTSD, finding that the veteran's conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active duty.

The Board found that the veteran's anxiety disorder did not begin during military service and is not otherwise attributable to his military service, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder, NOS, and anxiety disorder, NOS. The claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD or other mental disorders is deferred pending further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is related to his service in Vietnam and grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the veteran's combat experiences in service are sufficient to establish a link between his current psychiatric disorders and his military service.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for the service-connected anxiety neurosis with alcoholism, finding that the claimant's symptoms did not warrant such an increase.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for his anxiety reaction, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The Board also found that the current disability ratings were appropriate.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD or Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran developed depression (claimed as anxiety) in service due to an incident involving a recoil from a howitzer, and this condition is now granted for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including alcohol dependence and substance use disorder, are not related to his service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder with PTSD produces severe social and industrial impairment, warranting a 70 percent rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression. However, the Board found no causal relationship between the current psychiatric conditions and active military service.

The veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder is currently rated at 50 percent effective from August 17, 1999. Prior to that date, the rating was increased to 30 percent.