Anxiety decisions — 2004

The veteran's service-connected disabilities of the right lower extremity have resulted in a significant impairment, necessitating his use of a cane and wheelchair for ambulation. As such, he is eligible for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or other conveyance.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's anxiety reaction with PTSD from January 29, 1971, through March 24, 1998.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals found that the veteran likely developed an acquired psychiatric disorder in service, and granted service connection for dysthymia.

The Board has determined that the veteran is permanently and totally disabled for non-service-connected disability pension purposes based on his Social Security Administration (SSA) disability determination. As a result, he qualifies for a permanent and total disability rating for non-service-connected disability pension.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for anxiety neurosis has been denied. The RO granted the veteran a 100 percent rating effective November 7, 2000.

The case is being returned to the RO for additional development due to new evidence and a remand order.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder warrants a 30 percent evaluation, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current conditions to his service, including within one year of discharge. Therefore, service connection was denied for all three conditions.

The Board found that the service-connected anxiety disorder and PTSD did not cause or contribute substantially to the veteran's death from pneumonia complicated by toxic epidermal necrolysis.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions are not related to his active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his arteriosclerotic heart disease and anxiety reaction, as well as his claim for a total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disability. The veteran was granted service connection for an anxiety reaction secondary to his heart condition in December 2002.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for further examination and development of his VA outpatient records.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether any service-connected conditions contributed to the veteran's death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims regarding the propriety of reducing his anxiety reaction rating from 30% to 10%, as well as his entitlement to increased ratings for both his anxiety reaction and allergic rhinitis with maxillary sinusitis.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, attributing it to coronary thrombosis. The effective date is set at June 11, 1982, based on new and material evidence submitted by the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records. The veteran is also to be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death in May 1982, concluding that there was no evidence showing a causal relationship between his service-connected conditions and his death.

The Board has granted a 100% rating for service-connected psychoneurosis anxiety effective January 8, 2001. This decision is based on the earliest evidence of criteria for such a rating being met.

The Board denied service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and residuals of urinary tract infection, finding that the veteran's current conditions did not pre-exist or begin during his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further medical opinions regarding whether the veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder contributed to his death.