Anxiety decisions — 2005

The veteran's anxiety reaction is rated at 50 percent, and his bilateral pes planus is rated at 30 percent. The appeal for a TDIU remains pending.

The veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 30 percent, effective January 31, 2003.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for accrued benefits due to lack of new and material evidence for several service connection claims, including conjunctivitis, plantar warts, headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including post-traumatic stress disorder), allergic rhinitis, and arthritis.

The veteran's claims for increased rating of anxiety disorder, service connection for hypertension and heart disability secondary to anxiety are remanded due to inadequate notification and examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for flat feet, cardiovascular disease, hypercholesterolemia-related disability, liver disability, and psychiatric disability characterized by stress and anxiety. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The veteran's bilateral defective hearing disability remains at a 30 percent rating.

The Board denied service connection for anxiety/depression, hypertension, spinal cord injury, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome as the evidence did not support a causal relationship to military service.

The Board has granted a higher disability rating of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected dementia praecox, paranoid type with anxiety features due to occupational and social impairment.

The RO granted a total rating for compensation based upon individual unemployability effective June 14, 2004, due to the veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's major depression with anxiety disorder has been granted a 50 percent evaluation, effective April 7, 1997. The limited range of motion in the right wrist and the scar have also been granted increased evaluations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with dysthymia and anxiety, is not related to his service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The VA determined that the appellant's generalized anxiety disorder warrants a 10 percent evaluation, effective from January 31, 2001. The initial noncompensable evaluations for his scars are also granted.

The veteran is seeking to reopen his claim of service connection for an anxiety disorder. The Board has ordered the RO to obtain opinions from his VA mental health care providers regarding whether he sustained a head trauma during active military duty and if so, whether this could be related to his current mental disorders.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for the service-connected psychiatric disability, finding that the veteran's symptoms did not meet criteria warranting a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for hand tremors as secondary to the veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder. The claim for an increased evaluation of the anxiety disorder is also granted.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at a non-VA hospital due to lack of prior authorization and availability of VA facilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and records related to the veteran's hepatitis C claim and his heart disability claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, due to a lack of credible evidence corroborating his alleged in-service stressors and insufficient medical evidence linking any diagnosed anxiety disorder to his military service.

The VA has granted the veteran a TDIU based on his service-connected anxiety neurosis, as it meets the percentage requirements for such. The noncompensable epilepsy does not affect this decision.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a Travel Board Hearing. The case will be returned to the Board if necessary.