Anxiety decisions — 2004

The VA determined that the veteran's generalized anxiety disorder does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 50 percent, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for depression (claimed as depression, anxiety, and a nervous disorder) due to lack of competent medical evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board finds that the veteran is entitled to an effective date of May 26, 1997 for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a causal relationship between the veteran's acquired mental abnormality and active duty service.

The VA denied service connection for cardiovascular disease, including hypertension, as secondary to the veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder.

The veteran's PTSD with panic and anxiety disorder was initially granted, but the RO increased his evaluation from 30 to 50 percent. The case is being remanded for further examination and consideration of staged ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent for chronic psychoneurotic anxiety reaction and service connection for a low back disorder. The claim for TDIU is deferred pending completion of development.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia, major depression, anxiety disorder, and dysthymia. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety reaction does not warrant an increased rating prior to August 1, 2000 and on or subsequent to August 1, 2000. The Board also found that fecal and urinary incontinence were not incurred during service or due to a service-connected disability.

The Board previously denied increased ratings for anxiety neurosis and bilateral pes planus. The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death.

The veteran's service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder with depression contributed to his cause of death, which was due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The VA determined that the veteran's PTSD, which is manifested by depression, anxiety, and sleeplessness, does not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent.

The Board has ordered a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the veteran's current anxiety disorder is related to his service. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased disability rating and TDIU due to his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU.

The Board found no verified stressors to support a diagnosis of PTSD, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD. The increased disability evaluation claim related to Generalized Anxiety Disorder is pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric conditions and residuals of heat stroke.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to include a current VA examination and opinion due to the lack of service records related to anxiety or panic disorder.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his anxiety reaction with conversion features is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a special psychiatric examination.

The veteran's claim for TDIU was granted effective September 23, 1999. The Board found that the evidence prior to this date did not meet the percentage requirements for TDIU but determined that due to his service-connected disabilities and unemployment, he is unemployable.

The veteran's post concussion syndrome with headaches and anxiety symptoms is currently rated at 30 percent, which the Board finds to be appropriate. The facial scars are found to have been incurred in service.