Anxiety decisions — 2004

The veteran's claims for service connection for substance abuse as secondary to his service-connected anxiety reaction with PTSD, and for increased ratings for anxiety reaction with PTSD have been denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to a combined service-connected disability rating of 80 percent due to hypertension as secondary to asthma. The ratings for his other service-connected conditions (asthma, allergic rhinitis with chronic sinusitis, and anxiety-neurosis with depression) were also upheld.

The VA has granted a 10 percent disability rating for generalized anxiety disorder, effective from April 28, 2003.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The June 1955 rating decision incorrectly did not separately rate the veteran's anxiety reaction and failed to assign a compensable disability rating. The Board found that these decisions were clearly erroneous.

The Board has determined that the veteran's generalized anxiety disorder warrants a disability rating of 30 percent, effective from the date of VA treatment records showing increased symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.

The Board is remanding the case for a DRO hearing on the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder. The veteran's claim regarding whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral defective hearing will also be remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary in the current appeal, including obtaining service medical records and determining whether new evidence supports reopening a claim of anxiety disorder.

The Board has denied service connection for bronchitis, depression with anxiety, PTSD, and a laceration on the forehead as these conditions are not related to military service.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and development.

The veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected neurocirculatory asthenia, but the case needs further development to determine if other conditions are related to his service connection.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by depression, anxiety, guilt, suicidal ideation, irritability, memory and concentration issues, intrusive memories, exaggerated startle response, hypervigilance, sleep problems, impaired judgment, difficulty in work environment, and social isolation. The Board finds that the criteria for a 70 percent rating have been met.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling an in-person Travel Board hearing due to appellant's failure to report for a scheduled videoconference hearing.

The Board has determined that the case requires additional development due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the veteran's current psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to her service. The VA must also attempt to obtain information from the veteran's aunt about an alleged attack and attempted rape during service.

The VA granted service connection for anxiety disorder (claimed as PTSD) effective from April 19, 2001 and assigned an initial 10 percent rating. The decision does not address the issue of a higher rating prior to that date.

The Board has received notification from the veteran that they wish to withdraw their appeal, leading to the dismissal of the case.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder and somatoform disorder with seizures on a conversion basis is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural errors and requests for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected residuals of head injury with skull/sinus fractures and brain concussion with dementia and anxiety. Additionally, a separate 10 percent evaluation is assigned for his scarring of the face, right supraorbital area.