Anxiety decisions — 2006

The veteran's service-connected disabilities did not result in the level of impairment required for an increased rating, TDIU, or SMC based on a need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status. The appellant is therefore not entitled to accrued benefits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety disorder, which is a residual of head injuries in service, meets the criteria for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The VA has determined that the veteran's anxiety reaction does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent, as his symptoms do not warrant such an evaluation based on the severity and duration of his disability.

The veteran's claim for PTSD is granted, and his nonservice-connected pension benefits are awarded an effective date of June 26, 1997.

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 70 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including PTSD, depression, anxiety disorder, and hypertension, were not incurred during his period of active military service. The evidence does not support a finding of combat participation or credible corroborating evidence for the veteran's reported stressful events in Vietnam.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA medical records.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for a nervous condition, including PTSD. The veteran's reported stressor for PTSD was not verified due to lack of corroborative evidence.

The VA has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety reaction, warrants a 30 percent disability rating but not higher. The evidence does not support an increase to a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability due to new and material evidence. The claim of increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder is denied, as the symptoms do not warrant an increase in rating. The issue of service connection for bilateral tinnitus remains unresolved.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and medical records, confirming details of a near drowning incident, and clarifying opinions from previous examiners.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a 30 percent evaluation for his service-connected anxiety disorder. The Board finds that the criteria for an effective date prior to February 25, 1997 have not been met.

The VA determined that the veteran's anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 50 percent.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include psoriatic arthritis with scoliosis of the dorsolumbar spine and multiple skin conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU based on these disabilities.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The Board found that the criteria for higher ratings had not been met, and there was no evidence of new and material information to reopen previously denied service connection claims.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and remanded the case to allow further development, including obtaining additional information about stressors in service and providing a VA examination.

The VA has granted a rating of 70 percent for the veteran's anxiety disorder, effective August 16, 2002. The current evaluation is considered appropriate based on the symptoms described.

The Board has determined that the veteran's generalized anxiety disorder does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent.