Anxiety decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's nicotine dependency with anxiety warrants a 30 percent rating, effective from when his disability was first service-connected in March 1997.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have PTSD, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current psychiatric disorders to his service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The VA denied a higher initial disability evaluation for the appellant's generalized anxiety disorder, assigning a 50 percent rating effective November 3, 2004.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder warrants a 50 percent disability rating, but does not render him individually unemployable.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected anxiety disorder, currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's dysthymic disorder with anxiety warrants a 50 percent disability rating since October 3, 1990.

The veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent effective July 1, 2003. His psoriasis/asteatotic eczema remains at a 30 percent rating since December 6, 2000.

The Board has reopened the claims for a low back disorder and gastrointestinal disorder, but denied reopening of the anxiety disorder claim. The case is being remanded to further develop evidence related to the low back disorder.

The Board found that the veteran's personality disorder and depression did not pre-exist service or were aggravated by service, and thus denied service connection for these conditions. The Board also noted that there was no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD due to combat exposure.

The veteran's anxiety with psychophysiologic gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal reaction is productive of occasional depressed mood, occasional anxiety, and subjective complaint of acid reflux resulting in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency but not resulting in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his service-connected disabilities are being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional information and evidence regarding his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employability.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder or PTSD, is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that suggests an in-service stressor.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is required, including verifying the veteran's claimed in-service stressors and conducting a VA examination to determine if he currently has an acquired psychiatric disorder due to active service.

The veteran's appeal is to determine if he should receive a higher initial rating for his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder, and the case has been remanded due to new evidence of worsening symptoms.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for further development due to insufficient information regarding stressor events in service and incomplete medical records. The case will be readjudicated after these issues are addressed.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death, and there was no evidence of a relationship between his service-connected conditions and his cause of death. The claim for dependency and indemnity compensation benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was also denied.