Anxiety decisions — 2006

The veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board is remanding the case for further development to address whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as paranoia, anxiety, a psychosis, or an obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's request to withdraw it.

The veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a low back disorder was denied. His claim for an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder was granted with a 50% rating effective from June 20, 2005. The veteran's claim for an increased rating for acne of the face, back, and shoulders was denied.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for anxiety reaction and bilateral pes planus and hallux valgus was granted, with a rating of 30 percent each. The issue regarding service connection for a back disorder is still pending.

The Board found no evidence of a diagnosed psychiatric condition, specifically an anxiety disorder, and denied the claim for an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder was a contributory cause of his death from respiratory distress due to bronchiectasis, and thus grants the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has found that the appellant's anxiety disorder with somatization features warrants a schedular rating of 30 percent, effective June 21, 2000.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from Dr. O'Fran and SSA.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension on account of being housebound or in need of aid and attendance of another person is denied as he does not meet the criteria for either status based on his multiple disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current panic disorder is related to his active military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The veteran's death was not the result of his own willful misconduct, and he had a combined schedular disability evaluation of 80% due to service-connected disabilities. However, he did not have a total disability rating for 10 years prior to his death, nor was he entitled to a total disability based on individual unemployability for 10 years prior to his death.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for an anxiety disorder, effective from September 28, 1995. The veteran is seeking a prior effective date to December 23, 1991.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral defective hearing and chronic tinnitus must be denied due to lack of evidence showing current disability. The case is being remanded for additional examinations and development of records, including for increased evaluations of his service-connected anxiety disorder, left knee disorder, and residuals of brain concussion (including headaches).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for adjustment disorder with anxiety, tinnitus, arterial hypertension, and status post cerebrovascular accident (CVA) as there was no evidence of a current disability or an in-service event that caused these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lung cancer, which caused his death in October 2003, was not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The VA denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for chronic anxiety manifested by gastrointestinal distress, appendectomy scar, and right inguinal hernia repair scar. The appeals were decided on the merits of the service-connected conditions.

The veteran's right knee disorder is related to his service-connected left knee disability. The RO granted service connection for the right knee disorder and increased the rating from 10% to 30% effective June 19, 2004.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including schizoid personality disorder, dysthymia (depression), and generalized anxiety disorder, are not related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.