Anxiety decisions — 2006

The veteran is seeking service connection for a chronic psychiatric disorder, specifically an anxiety disorder. The case has been remanded due to incomplete service records and the need for proper notification regarding alternate sources of evidence.

The Board denied service connection for depression, anxiety, anger, soft tissue sarcoma, and skin cancer as there is no competent medical evidence showing the veteran has any of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety disorder and denied service connection for jungle rot.

The Board's September 24, 2004 decision was dismissed as moot due to a stipulated agreement between the parties for an earlier effective date of December 12, 1975.

The VA has maintained a non-compensable disability rating for the appellant's anxiety disorder since its initial grant in 1944. The most recent evaluation of 50 percent was granted effective February 16, 2001.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a stomach ulcer and an anxiety disorder, both secondary to hyperhidrosis/dermatitis. The evidence does not support the presence of these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's need for regular aid and attendance is not supported by evidence, as his service-connected anxiety disorder does not require such assistance.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and service personnel records.

The VA has determined that the veteran's anxiety reaction, formerly evaluated as neurasthenia, does not warrant a disability evaluation higher than 10 percent.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his anxiety psychoneurosis, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation prior to November 7, 1996 and prior to November 7, 2005.

The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety disorder warrants a 50 percent evaluation, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder, finding no current diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient evidence to establish a causal link between his anxiety disorder and military service.

The veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability does not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person or being housebound.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA opinion on whether the veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder contributed to his death from coronary artery disease and hypertension.

The veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent, the highest possible rating under DC 9400. His muscle disability in the neck with retained foreign body remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but granted service connection for an anxiety disorder. The current rating for bilateral hearing loss is 20 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic right heel pain and adjustment disorder with depressed mood and anxiety have been denied. The evidence does not show that the conditions warrant a higher rating.

The veteran's service-connected conditions, including dysthymic disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and traumatic arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, did not render him unemployable prior to March 24, 2005. His psychiatric condition was considered moderate in nature, and his low back disability caused only slight limitation of motion.

The VA Board found that the veteran's anxiety reaction has not caused significant occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. Therefore, a higher rating is denied.

The Board determined that the veteran's current psychiatric conditions are not related to his military service and denied the claims.