Anxiety decisions — 2007

The veteran's claims for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia and a personality disorder with immature personality and situational adjustment reaction have been reopened, but the issues of entitlement to these conditions remain unresolved.,The Board is remanding the case back to the AOJ for further action on the reopened claims.

The veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection were granted, with the earliest possible effective date being September 10, 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for attorney fees from past-due benefits based on a September 2003 rating decision granting service connection for dysthymia and anxiety, finding that the appellant is not entitled to payment of attorney fees.

The Board has determined that the veteran's generalized anxiety disorder does not warrant a higher evaluation, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and anxiety disorder, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The veteran's coronary artery disease, resulting from a right coronary artery dissection with myocardial infarction in the course of an April 1995 VA angioplasty, is found to be compensable under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety disorder, finding no medical evidence linking the current diagnosis to service or a service-connected disability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings on multiple service-connected conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including providing notice and obtaining medical records.

The veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and/or depression) and a higher rating for his low back disability. The case is being REMANDED to obtain additional medical records from Dr. Baldwin, who has treated the veteran's low back condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder of major depressive disorder with anxiety features is related to her in-service sexual assaults and has granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of hands and feet or need for aid and attendance/housebound status.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability as secondary to or aggravated by service-connected disabilities, denied the claim for service connection for a tailbone disability, and found that recoupment of payment of military separation pay is proper.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for PTSD was granted, effective July 9, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety disorder, which began during service, is service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking any in-service condition or a service-connected disability to his fatal cardiopulmonary arrest.

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center is being remanded due to incomplete documentation and procedural issues. The case will be reviewed by the VAMC with additional evidence, including records from VA facilities and Kaiser, as well as clarification on the nature of the emergency and distances involved.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The claim will be further developed and reconsidered.

The Board has determined that new evidence received since the last denial does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim for service connection for anxiety disorder and attention deficit disorder.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for joint pain and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, need further development due to incomplete records and verification of stressors.