Anxiety decisions — 2006

The VA has denied the appellant's request for a higher initial rating of 30 percent for his adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, finding that his symptoms are indicative of no more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent inability to perform tasks.

The veteran's anxiety reaction and panic disorder with agoraphobia are currently rated at 30 percent, warranting a higher rating. The paresthesia and tingling in the scalp issue is not supported by evidence of service connection.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an opinion on whether the veteran's cardiovascular disease was caused or aggravated by his service-connected interstitial fibrosis. The appeal is also for accrued benefits, and a statement of the case must be issued.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and verifying stressors. The veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the newly obtained evidence.

The Board dismissed the claim of clear and unmistakable error in the July 1975 and September 1975 RO decisions regarding severance of service connection for anxiety reaction with depressive features, as these decisions were subsumed by the November 1976 Board decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development and examination, including a determination of the impact her psychiatric disability has had on her ability to work versus the impact from organic disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran timely filed a substantive appeal regarding the March 2003 rating decision, which granted a 10 percent rating for peptic ulcer disease and denied service connection for several other conditions. The issues of reopening previously denied claims and seeking an earlier effective date remain with the RO.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for residuals, encephalopathy, traumatic with hypochondrial reaction. The veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation due to occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The VA Board of Veterans' Appeals found that the veteran does not have PTSD resulting from military service and denied her claim for service connection.

The veteran is not entitled to retroactive payment at the $2,239 monthly rate from June 6, 1981 as he was not rated as totally disabled until September 28, 2004.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The veteran's anxiety disorder resulted in total social and industrial impairment since May 16, 2005. Prior to that date, the evidence did not demonstrate severe symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for restless leg syndrome, anxiety disorder, and respiratory disorder (claimed as asbestosis) due to lack of a current diagnosis in the claims file.,There is no evidence linking any claimed conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional evidence submitted by the appellant that needs to be considered by the RO.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was caused by a service-connected psychiatric disability, and thus the appellant is eligible for Dependant's Educational Assistance under Chapter 35 of Title 38 of the United States Code.

The VA has determined that the veteran's generalized anxiety disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating, as it does not cause significant impairment in work and social functioning.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tendonitis of the left hand, generalized arthritis (claimed as arthritis of the entire body and chronic joint pain due to radiation exposure and cold weather exposure), tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis/allergic rhinitis, adjustment disorder with anxiety, depressed mood, insomnia, and side effects from medications. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service or any specific exposure.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder did not warrant an earlier effective date than January 4, 1995.