Anxiety decisions — 2007

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has ordered a remand to determine if additional mental disorders are related to service or if there is a progression of his PTSD.

The Board found no credible evidence of an anxiety disorder during service or for many years after, and no competent or credible evidence linking the veteran's current anxiety disorder to his military service. Therefore, service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence from the veteran's second period of service and a need for further examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of exposure to asbestos, hypertension, a right arm disability, and a psychiatric disorder (anxiety with depression). The evidence did not support the presence or relationship of these conditions to service.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for a back condition and a mental condition, finding that there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to the appellant's active duty for training.

The veteran's anxiety disorder and depression have significantly impaired his occupational and social functioning, warranting a rating of 70 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder warrants a 50 percent evaluation, and his service-connected hiatus hernia with GERD warrants a 10 percent evaluation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence suggests a relationship between the veteran's current psychiatric disorders and his military service, but does not conclusively establish this.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The veteran's claims for service connection and a rating for his hernia are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records, including those from service. A VA examination is also required to determine if his current psychiatric disorder began in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder or skin condition for which service connection can be granted.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and providing VCAA notice.

The Board has determined that the veteran's asbestos-related lung disease originated in service and is therefore granted service connection. However, there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for generalized anxiety disorder.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, right shoulder disability, bilateral hip disabilities, and low back disability. The veteran's anxiety disorder was granted with a 30 percent rating effective May 10, 2004.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to lack of notification regarding the revised rating criteria and failure to schedule VA examinations. The RO/AMC is instructed to provide the veteran with the amended rating criteria, schedule VA examinations, and consider all evidence added since the last adjudication.

New evidence has been submitted that suggests the veteran served in Vietnam and may be related to his claimed conditions. The claims for service connection are being reopened.

The Board found no evidence of gout in service records and concluded that the veteran's current diagnosis of gout is not related to his military service. The veteran was also determined not to be housebound or in need of aid and attendance due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board granted service connection for Crohn's disease and awarded a 60 percent disability rating, effective November 9, 1993. The TDIU rating was also granted with an effective date of August 1, 2003.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depressive disorder and anxiety did not have their onset during service or for several years thereafter, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's service connection for chronic tinnitus and right ankle sprain residuals is granted. Service connection for chronic hypertension is denied as not incurred in or aggravated by wartime service.