Anxiety decisions — 2005

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder with dysthymia and alcohol dependence, finding that his psychiatric disability produces severe impairment in work and family relations. The Board also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to the veteran's service-connected psychiatric disabilities.

The veteran's psychiatric disability results in severe social and industrial impairment, warranting a 70 percent rating.

The Board found that the veteran's unemployability is due to his alcohol and substance abuse, not a service-connected psychiatric condition. Therefore, he does not meet the criteria for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for clarification on whether the veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or anxiety disorder not otherwise specified (ADNOS), related to service.

The VA has determined that the veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with depression warrants a 50 percent disability rating from the effective date of service connection to the present.

The veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder and duodenal ulcer with pylorospasm and irritable bowel syndrome are currently rated at the maximum allowable under VA rating criteria. The Board has determined that these conditions do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation, thus denying his claims for increased ratings. Additionally, the evidence does not support an award of TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from engaging in any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of gouty arthritis, peptic ulcer disease, or anxiety disorder. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety disorder is a result of disease incurred during active military service and has granted the claim for service connection.

The veteran is entitled to presumptive service connection for certain diseases based on his status as a former prisoner of war, provided he was interned or detained for at least 30 days.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and residuals of heat stroke, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety reaction warrants a 70 percent evaluation, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment. Service connection for sleep apnea is denied as not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected anxiety reaction, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for ratings in excess of 30 percent from August 1995 to April 2000.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the veteran's anxiety disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected irritable bowel disease with gastritis and cholecystectomy.

The veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder. The Board has remanded the case to obtain clarification of a VA examiner's opinion regarding the onset of the veteran's psychiatric conditions.

The Board has determined that further evidentiary development is necessary, including obtaining updated VA outpatient treatment records and scheduling the veteran for a new VA psychiatric examination to determine if his diagnosed major depressive disorder and/or anxiety disorder are related to service or any incident therein.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was granted.,The May 1982 rating decision, which denied service connection for anxiety disorder, is not considered clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is service-connected, as it was incurred during his active duty in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a psychiatric disorder, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Dysthymic Disorder, due to disease or injury incurred in service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's generalized anxiety disorder was aggravated during service, and PTSD is not service-connected due to lack of verified in-service stressors.

The Board has granted the veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for psychoneurosis, anxiety reaction. The issue remains on the merits.