Anxiety decisions — 2006

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder) as it is related to the veteran's military service.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within one year post-service, and denied the veteran's claims for hypertension and stress and anxiety.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for an anxiety disorder and residuals of a head injury, finding new and material evidence. The Board also found that these conditions are related to the veteran's service-connected injuries.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any psychiatric disorder, as there was no medical evidence linking any current psychiatric condition to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing records and examination reports.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and higher initial ratings, finding that his service-connected conditions did not warrant a rating in excess of those assigned.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder, claimed as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted a 100% schedular rating for anxiety neurosis effective from May 1, 1983. The claim for TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current psychiatric disorders are not service-connected, as the most persuasive medical opinion does not support a connection between his head injury in service and his current conditions.

The veteran's anxiety disorder with panic attacks is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating of 70 percent is warranted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing before the Board. The veteran requested a rescheduled hearing due to his spouse's sudden illness.

The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety and depression are related to his service-connected muscle contraction headaches, bilateral knee disorders, lumbosacral strain, and right hip strain. The claim for secondary service connection is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation of 70 percent for generalized anxiety disorder and a TDIU, finding that there was no evidence to support earlier effective dates prior to September 19, 2002.

The Board found that the veteran does not currently have a diagnosis of PTSD and therefore denied service connection for this condition.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the June 1956 rating decision that denied service connection for anxiety reaction, also claimed as dizzy spells. The veteran's condition was determined to have existed prior to his entry into active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression and anxiety, finding that there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for increased initial ratings for his generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks and agoraphobia, finding that the disability did not warrant a rating higher than 50 percent at any point.

The veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease was not rated higher than 30% for the period from March 21, 2002 to October 8, 2003. Since October 9, 2003, his disability rating has been increased to 60%. The anxiety disorder was granted a 30% rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection, TDIU, and nonservice-connected pension are being remanded due to incomplete development of her active duty status.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder has been dismissed due to his death.