Anxiety decisions — 2007

The veteran's service-connected disabilities (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, PTSD, Degenerative Disc Disease of the Cervical Spine, Radiculopathy of the Left Shoulder/Arm, Headaches, Hypertension, and Corneal Abrasion of the Right Eye) meet the criteria for a TDIU due to their combined 80% disability rating.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a service connection for PTSD with depression, generalized anxiety and panic attacks due to lack of credible supporting evidence of the stressors.

The Board found that the veteran's current heart disorder is not related to active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, postoperative residuals of coronary artery disease, and a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and anxiety), as well as his claim for an increased rating for right ear hearing loss. The April 1975 denial of service connection for left ear hearing loss is final.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his current disorders did not begin during or soon after service and were not related to in-service treatment. The evidence showed no definitive psychiatric disorder until many years after discharge from service.

The veteran has been granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD. The diagnosis includes anxiety disorder and depression, which the VA adjudicator found to have begun during military service.

The veteran's appeal for a higher disability evaluation for his service-connected psychiatric conditions has been withdrawn.

The veteran's claim for an increase in his rating for major depression with generalized anxiety disorder was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for anxiety neurosis with somatization and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with esophageal stricture and irritable syndrome, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under applicable diagnostic codes.

The VA has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder, effective February 23, 2005. The symptoms associated with the condition have been consistent with the criteria for no more than this current rating.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for payment of accrued benefits for a period in excess of two years, as the veteran died prior to December 16, 2003.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that there was no evidence of a preexisting psychiatric disorder in service, and that any current psychiatric disorders were not aggravated by service. Additionally, the combined rating of 60% did not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The veteran is seeking service connection for anxiety/depression, which he claims was caused by a collision and subsequent fire aboard the U.S.S. Belknap during his military service. The case has been remanded due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's mood disorder is causally related to service-connected tinnitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for anxiety neurosis, finding that there was no evidence of an injury or disease during his active duty training and thus denying the claim based on a direct service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and readjudication of his claims.

The veteran died in August 2004 and had no pending claims for accrued benefits at the time of his death. Therefore, the appellant is not entitled to such benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and alcohol dependence, finding no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service.

The Board denied the reduction of the rating for anxiety reaction with PTSD from 30% to 10%, finding that there was not sufficient evidence of material improvement in the veteran's condition.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is evaluated as noncompensable (0 percent disabling). The right ear scar is currently rated at 30 percent. Headaches are rated as 10 percent disabling from April 14, 2003 to March 28, 2006 and as 10 percent thereafter. Generalized anxiety disorder is rated as 30 percent disabling.,The veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.