Anxiety decisions — 2007

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for verification of stressors and clarification of diagnoses.

The veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, hypertension, anxiety disorder, and depression have all been denied. The claim for PTSD has not been addressed in this decision.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and osteoarthritis of the spine, require daily personal health care services due to his limited mobility and high risk for falls. The Board finds that these needs are primarily attributable to his service-connected conditions and grants special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that the glioblastoma was not related to his service and did not contribute to his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's son, T., was permanently incapable of self-support prior to his 18th birthday for purposes of accrued benefits and benefits due and payable subsequent to the veteran's death.

The veteran is entitled to payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred at the Silliman University Medical Center from September 13, 1998, to September 16, 1998. The other issues were denied.

The veteran's generalized anxiety disorder was granted service connection effective November 18, 2002. The right shoulder tendonitis and impingement syndrome were granted service connection effective January 15, 2003.,The veteran is entitled to a higher initial evaluation for his generalized anxiety disorder from December 11, 2002 to January 24, 2005. He is not entitled to an increased rating after that date.

The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety disorder, which was first diagnosed after service, is related to his military service and has been granted service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for revision of a May 1971 rating decision denying service connection for an anxiety reaction, finding no clear and unmistakable error (CUE). The RO correctly considered all evidence before it and applied appropriate laws and regulations.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for post-operative scar residuals of pilonidal cyst and denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include an anxiety disorder and PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, right hand tremor, breathing problems, a cyst on the spine, hypertension, left leg neuropathy, anxiety and depression, heart condition with bundle branch block, and degenerative arthritis of the back.

The Board found that the service-connected conditions did not contribute to the veteran's cause of death, which was congestive heart failure. The Board concluded that pes planus and anxiety disorder were not related to the veteran's immobility or edema.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his psychiatric disability and to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The heart disability claim was also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions of residuals of a head injury, to include depression and anxiety, were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder. The evidence did not support the veteran's assertions of in-service stress or combat exposure.

The veteran's anxiety disorder was initially rated at 30 percent from October 18, 2000 to November 15, 2005. A subsequent increased rating to 70 percent was granted effective from November 15, 2005.,An earlier effective date of October 18, 2000 for the 30 percent evaluation is not warranted.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and anxiety disorders, finding that there was no credible in-service stressor and insufficient medical evidence linking the current psychiatric conditions to service.

The veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with headaches is currently rated at 50 percent, which reflects occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as flattened affect, impaired memory, and difficulty in establishing effective work and social relationships. The disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including a tumor in the spine, degenerative disc disease, bilateral hearing loss, and a nervous condition (adjustment disorder with anxiety), were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims are denied.