Anxiety decisions — 2004

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD, finding that no evidence was received by VA prior to May 22, 2001.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition and psychiatric disorders, finding no evidence of such conditions related to the veteran's active service.

The Board has ordered a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the veteran's current psychiatric disorders existed prior to service and whether any such conditions were aggravated by service. The claim will be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hospitalization at a private facility was necessary due to VA not having available beds for him during his acute phase of chest pain, and he did not stabilize sufficiently to be transferred to a VA facility. As such, reimbursement or payment is granted.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder due to new and material evidence. However, it was determined that his current psychiatric condition is not attributable to military service.

The veteran's combined service-connected disabilities, which include multiple knee and hip injuries along with arthritis and anxiety/depression, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claim of entitlement to an increased evaluation for service-connected anxiety disorder can be adjudicated on its merits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including left eye glaucoma, right eye uveitis, anxiety disorder (depression), hypertension, and heart disorder, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The veteran's anxiety neurosis has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but not to the extent that it causes deficiencies in most areas. The disability rating is now set at 50 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding no credible verification of a non-combat stressor in service and noting that her psychiatric conditions were diagnosed but not linked to service.

The Board found that the veteran's current psychiatric disability, characterized as major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, is due to his active duty military service. As a result, the claim for service connection was granted.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected dysthymia and anxiety disorder, as a component of a depressive process, does not meet the criteria for an increased disability evaluation beyond the currently assigned 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's severe anxiety reaction does not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability evaluation in excess of 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service and any personal assault allegations.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 50 percent for the veteran's anxiety disorder, effective from November 18, 1996. The effective date remains unclear as there is no evidence of a prior claim or entitlement to service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 1, 1999, for the award of service connection for anxiety disorder and depressive disorder.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, chloracne, prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety), sinusitis, cervical spine myositis, and lumbar spine myositis were denied as there is no evidence of current disability or in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bipolar disorder and depression with anxiety do not warrant a higher disability rating, as they result in considerable industrial and social impairment but no deficiencies in most areas.

The veteran's claim for increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder is being remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examination.

The VA denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, which was diagnosed as conversion disorder with anxiety and depressive features. The most recent VA examination found no significant psychiatric impairment other than a diagnosis of conversion disorder by history.