Anxiety decisions — 2005

The Board granted service connection for depression with anxiety and TDIU, effective from the date of receipt of the claim in July 1999. The veteran's claims were reopened based on new evidence received after his original claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and any additional evidence from the veteran's mother.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD with Panic/Anxiety Disorder warrants a 50 percent rating, effective from the date of service connection.

The veteran's service-connected cardiomyopathy with incomplete right bundle branch block and mixed headaches have not been found to warrant higher initial evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The decision also denied service connection for alcohol dependence and tobacco use disorder as a matter of law.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 30 percent for generalized anxiety disorder and a 10 percent evaluation for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board found the evidence in equipoise as to whether the veteran engaged in combat with the enemy during his active service, and thus reopened the claim based on new and material evidence. However, there is no causal link between any current psychiatric disorder and service, including any claimed PTSD or major depression.

The Board has determined that the veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is not related to his service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 100 percent, indicating total occupational impairment. The claims for service connection for malnutrition, dysentery, and helminthiasis have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.

The Board is remanding the case to consider whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for psychiatric disability, specifically generalized anxiety disorder. The veteran's application was received after August 29, 2001, so the amended definition of new and material evidence applies.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 7, 1983, for a 100% rating for schizophrenia is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including major depressive disorder with panic attacks and generalized anxiety, hypertension, and sinusitis, were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The VA medical records do not show any evidence of these conditions during her military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a fracture of the right fourth metacarpal, severe migraine headaches, gastrointestinal disorder, multiple joint pain, and anxiety, stress, sleep disturbance and fatigue due to an undiagnosed illness were all denied. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for the service-connected anxiety disorder, effective from May 16, 2001.

The May 26, 1959 rating decision granted service connection for chronic brain syndrome and anxiety reaction.,The May 6, 1964 rating decision reduced the evaluation of psychoneurosis (anxiety reaction) from 10% to noncompensably disabling.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development and notification.

The veteran's anxiety disorder, including PTSD, is currently rated at 50 percent disabling due to significant impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The Board has granted a 100 percent schedular disability rating for an anxiety reaction and awarded TDIU effective May 8, 2000. The appeal seeking earlier effective dates is dismissed.

The VA determined that the veteran's anxiety neurosis, which is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, does not meet the criteria for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent.

The veteran's anxiety disorder is manifested by sleep disturbances, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts and anger. The VA has granted a rating of 30 percent for the adjustment/anxiety disorder.