Anxiety decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder did not have its onset during active service or result from disease or injury in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's anxiety disorder is not caused or made worse by service-connected disability, and denied his claims for increased ratings for ankle disabilities.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for initial consideration of the new evidence submitted by his attorney and to address issues related to an earlier effective date for a disability rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to higher ratings for his anxiety disorder, chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, and residuals of shell fragment wounds to muscle group XVII with right ilium fracture. The claim of service connection for bilateral eye injury was also denied.

The veteran's initial rating for residuals of multiple neck strain injuries, with traumatic arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is granted at 60 percent prior to September 23, 2002. The combined initial rating since September 23, 2002 is granted at 80 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left wrist disorder, left knee disorder, and anxiety disorder. The decision is based on the lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or nexus to current conditions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and providing proper VCAA notice.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of the evidence is against finding that the veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 50 percent, as his symptoms do not warrant a 70 percent evaluation based on service-connected disability alone.

The veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety, depression, panic disorder in remission and PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent. The symptoms are productive of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether the veteran's current anxiety and depressive disorders are related to her service.

The Board denied both the claim for PTSD and the request for an earlier effective date for schizophrenia. The veteran's claims were based on direct service connection, but no specific exposure basis was provided.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety attacks, and obsessive compulsive disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The stressor supporting a PTSD diagnosis has also not been corroborated.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his anxiety reaction disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current conditions are related to his service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for an anxiety disorder and a foot disability, to include residuals of cold exposure are being remanded due to the need for additional development including medical examinations.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the appellant's psychiatric disorders were not incurred or aggravated during active duty training (ACDUTRA).

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed psychiatric disability, including anxiety and depression, was not incurred or aggravated during his active duty service.

The Board denied the claim that the veteran's death was caused by a service-connected disability, finding no evidence linking his cause of death to any of his service-connected conditions or their treatment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's PTSD diagnosis and its relation to service. The veteran is requested to provide medical records, undergo a VA examination, and clarify his claims.