Anxiety decisions — 2005

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, effective from October 4, 1999. The veteran also received a higher initial evaluation for his neurodermatitis.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for myopia, left arm twitching, gingivitis and stomatitis (claimed as bleeding gums), a psychiatric disability including PTSD, depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder with mood swings, sleep disturbance, memory loss, night sweats, and concentration problems, sexual dysfunction, and staph and strep infections. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected psychiatric disability (anxiety neurosis with panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder) was denied as he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression, dysthymia, anxiety and/or PTSD, is found to have been incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claims for varicose veins in the left leg, sinus tachycardia, and anxiety have been denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during service or a link to service.

The veteran's claim for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment was denied as he does not meet the criteria for such assistance due to his current service-connected disabilities. However, he is eligible for adaptive equipment only.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a mental disorder (claimed as severe anxiety) due to lack of evidence showing a chronic condition during or as a result of his period of active service.

The Board determined that the veteran's pre-existing generalized anxiety disorder was not aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for the service-connected anxiety neurosis, effective March 6, 1998. The veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for lumbar myositis and service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine remain pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a low back condition and denied his request for an increased rating for anxiety state, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claims. The veteran's anxiety is currently rated at 30 percent.

The veteran's psychiatric disorder does not result in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has granted a 50 percent disability rating for the veteran's anxiety reaction with depressive features, finding that his reliability, flexibility and efficiency levels are so reduced as to result in considerable social and industrial impairment.

The VA has granted an increased rating of 50 percent for the veteran's service-connected anxiety reaction with hysterical features and tremors, currently rated as 30 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that there was clear and unmistakable error in the July 1971 rating decision, which denied service connection for a nervous disorder. The effective date of service connection for PTSD is now set to May 19, 2004.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety, left ear hearing loss, and rheumatoid arthritis as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's reported history is not credible and there was no evidence of a psychiatric disorder in service or any corroborated incident in service to which his current generalized anxiety disorder is attributed. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a generalized anxiety disorder was denied.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for the veteran's service-connected anxiety reaction, finding no current disabling symptomatology.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance of another is being remanded due to the need for a current VA examination, as well as further development regarding service connection for residuals of head injury.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected anxiety reaction with PTSD was granted, and he is now rated at 30 percent prior to May 22, 2000. Service connection has also been established for heart disorder with hypertension as secondary to the service-connected anxiety reaction with PTSD, and gastroesophageal reflux disease with dyspepsia as secondary to the service-connected anxiety reaction with PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability including PTSD, a skin disorder identified as mild recurrent itching with lichen simplex, and hypertension. The veteran's colds and flu-like symptoms are not considered due to undiagnosed illness.