Anxiety decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, is granted. The evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD with its onset likely related to childhood trauma, but also exacerbated by in-service stressors. Service connection is established based on new and material evidence.

The Board has decided that the veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder warrants a rating in excess of 30 percent, resolving the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination and additional VCAA notice.

The VA denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for the veteran's anxiety disorder, which was initially granted in January 1974.

The Board has decided that the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an anxiety disorder should be remanded due to a lack of medical evidence and the need for further examination.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for COPD, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and an anxiety disorder with headaches. The appeals are dismissed.

The Board found no evidence of PTSD and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's skin condition did not warrant a higher than 10 percent rating under either pre-amended or amended regulations, and his psychiatric disorder did not meet the criteria for a higher than 50 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD and his generalized anxiety disorder was first manifested many years after active military service and is not shown to be related to any incident, injury or disease of active service.

The veteran's anxiety reaction is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating due to its current level of disability.,For migraine headaches, the veteran has an initial noncompensable evaluation. The VA examiner found that his migraines occur four times per month and are manageable with medication.

The Board denied reopening the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for further examination and medical evidence.

The case is being remanded to the RO for additional development due to a request for a videoconference hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and hair loss, both presumed to be due to undiagnosed illness in the Persian Gulf War. The weight gain claim is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Board denied service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, chronic alopecia, eating disorder, diverticulosis (claimed as diarrhea and constipation), and loss of bladder control. The veteran's current conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by his active service.

The VA has granted a 70 percent disability rating for generalized anxiety disorder, effective from April 2002. However, the veteran's condition does not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for scars, traumatic, left thigh and right leg. The claim of service connection for atypical anxiety disorder with depression was reopened based on new evidence, but the claim remains denied as there is no presumption or direct link to service. Service connection for seizure disorder was also granted.

The VA has determined that the veteran's anxiety reaction does not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 50% evaluation under the applicable diagnostic code.

The VA determined that the veteran's anxiety disorder with PTSD symptoms is currently manifested by social impairment due to moderate symptoms, and does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for a more contemporaneous VA examination to determine the severity of his service-connected residuals of spinal meningitis with conversion features, and for readjudication of his claim.