Anxiety decisions — 2004

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD based on credible supporting evidence of the veteran's in-service stressors. The claim for anxiety disorder is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD with depression and anxiety, effective December 3, 1997. The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date based on his original claim filed in September 13, 1982.

The Board found that the veteran does not have an innocently acquired psychiatric disability to include anxiety disorder or dysthymia, and thus denied service connection for these conditions. The claim for hypertension was also remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board found that the veteran's anxiety disorder did not cause or contribute to his death, and that myasthenia gravis, which was a service-connected condition, aggravated by his pre-existing anxiety disorder, caused his death. The VA medical opinions supported this conclusion.

The veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability (depression, anxiety, and hypochondriasis) does not render him unemployable due to his age and other nonservice-connected health issues.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chronic sinusitis, anxiety disorder (PTSD and anxiety), headaches due to an undiagnosed illness, skin disorders, disability of the hands and elbows, and bilateral knee disabilities. The appeals were based on presumed service connection for undiagnosed illnesses related to service in the Persian Gulf region.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, anxiety neurosis, and personality disorder due to new evidence submitted since the February 1999 RO decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining new medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claim for an increased rating for anxiety reaction is also being reviewed.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for anxiety neurosis, currently rated at 30 percent.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbar muscle strain does not warrant a compensable evaluation, and his anxiety reaction does not clearly interfere with normal employability. Therefore, he is denied an increased evaluation for both conditions.

The veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability is rated at 100 percent effective February 5, 2002, due to its severe impact on his ability to work and maintain employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records and providing the veteran with examinations to determine the severity of his anxiety reaction, bilateral pes planus and hallux valgus, and back disorder. The claims will be adjudicated again based on this new evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The VA determined that the veteran's anxiety disorder warranted a 50 percent rating, but did not grant an increased rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The digestive disorder issue remains denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his bipolar disorder.

The veteran is seeking an increased evaluation for his service-connected general anxiety disorder, currently rated at 30 percent. The Board has ordered remand to ensure proper development of the claim and consideration of all relevant evidence.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tension headaches, atypical chest pain, and generalized anxiety disorder with social phobia. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities related to these conditions that began during military service.