Anxiety decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his headaches and residuals of post-concussion syndrome, as well as his attempts to reopen a claim for service connection for coronary insufficiency and angina on exertion secondary to PTSD with dementia. The February 1979 rating decision was not appealed, making it final.

The veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety, depression, and dyspepsia is currently rated at 50 percent. The rating for the papulosquamous eruption remains at 30 percent since July 17, 1998.

The Board found that the appellant's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated during her active duty for training service and denied all claims of service connection.

The veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The TDIU claim remains denied as well.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, due to sexual assault during his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's anxiety disorder and panic disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has granted a 50 percent initial disability rating for the veteran's MDD with GAD from June 1, 1999 to February 22, 2007. The claim for an increased rating since February 23, 2007 is denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected anxiety neurosis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional service personnel records and for the veteran to undergo a VA psychiatric examination to determine his current psychiatric diagnoses and whether they are related to his period of active service.

The Board found that the veteran's alcohol abuse is not shown to be secondary to his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder and denied the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and mood disorder. The examiner is to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's claimed in-service stressors and psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that the veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a TDIU rating is denied as his claims for service connection for hypertension and hypertensive heart disease were not perfected until March 2, 2004.

The veteran's death was not caused by or related to any service-connected disability, and the Board denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of February 3, 1996 for the grant of service connection for PTSD, a 70 percent rating for service-connected anxiety disorder, and TDIU.,The veteran's claims were based on evidence showing an increase in psychiatric disability and his unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

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

The veteran's appeal for service connection and pension eligibility was denied. The Board found that the veteran did not meet the basic eligibility requirements for VA improved pension benefits due to his peacetime active service.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine if the veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his military service. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current psychiatric disability was not incurred during service and is related to substance abuse, specifically alcohol and drug abuse. As a result, the claim for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and depression is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU. The low back strain claim was denied as there is no evidence of ankylosis or pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome. The anxiety disorder and bilateral ankle disorder claims were also denied due to lack of evidence supporting their onset during service or being related to service-connected disability.