Anxiety decisions — 2007

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, bilateral knee disability, and anxiety. The claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an ophthalmologic examination. The issues of service connection for glaucoma, increased rating for anxiety disorder with headaches, and increased rating for hypertension are pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cause of death was not related to his service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic encephalopathy with anxiety disorder. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities (generalized anxiety disorder and malaria) do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected herniated nucleus pulposus with sciatica pain to both lower extremities, arthritis, and anxiety disorder. The veteran's service connection claim for these conditions was decided on the merits.

The Board found that the veteran's currently diagnosed psychiatric disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by his active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence on file, and a VA examination is needed to determine if the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder may be linked to his service.

The Board has granted an effective date of August 17, 1977 for the award of service connection for PTSD based on new and material evidence received after a previous denial in 1978.

The veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular rating for this condition. The Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted and thus denied his claim for an increased disability rating. For TDIU, the evidence does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The veteran is entitled to reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses due to an emergency room visit and ambulance services received on March 16, 2005 for anxiety reaction.

The Board has withdrawn the appeal for service connection of anxiety disorder due to the veteran's request. The claim for a sleep disorder secondary to PTSD is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic sleep disorder. The rating for PTSD remains at 50%.

The Board has remanded the case for readjudication due to a recent increase in ratings and incomplete consideration of the combined evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current chronic psychiatric disorder and did not find any link between his service and such condition. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, was incurred in or aggravated by service. Service connection for these conditions is granted. The non-Hodgkin's lymphoma remains service-connected but with no compensable rating assigned.

The veteran's initial ratings for panic disorder and skin disabilities have been denied as her symptoms do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an anxiety disorder or melanoma, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to service. The claim for tinnitus was remanded due to procedural issues.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a right knee disability due to disease or injury incurred in service. The claim for anxiety disorder is remanded as it involves PTSD, which requires further verification of the claimed stressor.

The veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for DJD of the left and right knees and neurotic depression with anxiety from appellate consideration.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD with anxiety and depression is manifested by symptoms such as suicidal ideation, periods of violence, panic attacks, reclusiveness, anxiety, agitation, crying spells, short term memory problems, depression, feelings of helplessness, poor personal hygiene, sleeping problems, hypervigilance, intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and nightmares. The Board finds that the disability is currently manifested by symptoms warranting a 100 percent rating.

The Board found that the veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.