Anxiety decisions — 2003

The veteran's appeal is for an increased evaluation of his service-connected PTSD. The RO has granted him other disabilities, but the current rating for PTSD remains at 30 percent. The Board finds that a remand is necessary to properly assess and delineate the distinctions between and interactions among mental health disabilities.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case, including obtaining medical records and arranging for examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected anxiety reaction with gastrointestinal reaction, asthmatic bronchitis, and any skin disorder related to exposure to Agent Orange. The case is being remanded for these actions.

The Board has granted service connection for epididymitis and a generalized anxiety disorder prior to January 17, 2001. The veteran's claim for an anxiety disorder is now moot due to the grant of PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as anxiety disorder not otherwise specified with depressive features. The issue of a disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the residuals of a gunshot wound of the right calf is remanded for further development.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for clarification on his satisfaction with the current rating, additional development of evidence, and readjudication based on new information.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the appellant's claim for an increased evaluation for his anxiety disorder, currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA Social and Industrial Survey interview and comprehensive examination of the veteran's service-connected disabilities' impact on his employability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety reaction, finding that new and material evidence had not been received sufficient to reopen a previously-denied claim.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence linking the current diagnosis of anxiety neurosis with dysthymia to service, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board found that the appellant currently has tinnitus that began during active service and granted service connection for this condition. The claims of entitlement to service connection for peptic ulcer disease, residuals of a head tumor, and anxiety were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a neuropsychiatric disorder that includes depression and anxiety, finding the evidence in equipoise on whether these conditions are etiologically related to the veteran's service-connected PTSD. The issue of determination of initial rating assignment for PTSD is remanded due to failure to provide a statement of the case.

The VA Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for chronic anxiety, finding that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or a link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified, both related to the veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to recent court orders and VA regulations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection based on direct service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has granted a 100% rating for the veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and a depressed mood, effective from May 1995.

The veteran's death was caused by a service-connected disability. The respiratory disease is considered to be aggravated by the service-connected psychiatric disability, and the anxiety neurosis meets the criteria for a 100% rating. There is no evidence of entitlement to an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss at the time of his death.

The Board has granted a 100 percent disability rating for the service-connected anxiety disorder, effective from the date of the decision. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability is moot as the veteran already has a 100 percent schedular rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 50 percent for anxiety with PTSD and service connection for herpes zoster Ramsay Hunt syndrome. The claim for TDIU was deferred pending completion of development.

The Board denied service connection for acne vulgaris, hidradenitis of the left axilla, and a psychiatric disorder. The nerve damage was not considered proximately due to a service-connected disability.,Service connection was not granted as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that led to these conditions.