Anxiety decisions — 2004

The Board denied the veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate due to his non-service connected disabilities, finding that he is not in need of such benefits.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional VA outpatient mental health treatment records and a current VA examination.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records and a new psychiatric examination. The RO must ensure all VCAA notice and development obligations have been satisfied, including obtaining relevant treatment records from the Milwaukee VA Medical Center.

The veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his anxiety disorder with panic attacks, low back disorder, and seborrheic dermatitis was denied. The current rating for the anxiety disorder is 30 percent.

The veteran's anxiety disorder has not caused total social and occupational impairment, and is not of such a degree that he is unable to obtain or retain gainful employment.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death. The appellant was denied entitlement to DIC under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 and an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for residuals of lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis.

The veteran's PTSD, sinusitis with deviated nasal septum, and anxiety disorder claims were all granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for anxiety disorder was set at July 13, 2004.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized private medical expenses incurred from October 28, 2002 to October 31, 2002 because the treatment was not related to a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if the veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, are related to service.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression or other nervous disorders. The current psychiatric condition is not shown to be related to his military service.

The veteran's only service-connected disability (an anxiety disorder) does not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on a need for regular aid and attendance or on housebound status.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication due to incomplete examination reports and failure to comply with previous remand directives.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current psychiatric disorders other than PTSD.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate is remanded due to incomplete medical records and a lack of VCAA notification.

The Board has determined that the cause of the veteran's death is not related to his service or to his service-connected anxiety disorder, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and a TDIU rating is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from private providers and corroborating specific stressor events. The claim for an increased rating for maxillary sinusitis remains denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for essential tremors and anxiety disorder, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claim of essential tremors.

The veteran's service-connected chronic brain syndrome is rated at 30 percent, and his depression and anxiety are not found to be related to the service-connected head trauma.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to service connection for cause of death and whether a pre-existing condition worsened by medication caused the veteran's death.

The veteran is seeking service connection for generalized anxiety disorder with major depression, which he claims began in service and/or is related to his service-connected stomach disability. The Board finds that additional development is needed due to conflicting evidence in the file.