Anxiety decisions — 2008

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety disorder, NOS is service connected as it developed during his active military service.

The Board finds that the veteran's current dysthymic disorder began in service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of new and material evidence for generalized anxiety disorder, and found no evidence linking his sleep disorder to active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety disorder is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depressive disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by her active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety and depression, as well as gastritis with chronic abdominal pain, both secondary to the veteran's service-connected lumbar plexopathy due to carbon monoxide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety disorder, including as due to in-service personal assault. The decision on the back disability and sinus condition issues is pending.

The Board has reopened the veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for a panic/anxiety disorder based on new and material evidence. The issue is now before the Board to determine if the condition was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete evidence and a need for further examination. The veteran is requested to provide any STRs related to anxiety in service, and VA will attempt to obtain these records. If the veteran provides such records, he may be entitled to a VA examination.

The veteran's back disability is rated at 10 percent disabling, and her anxiety disorder is rated at 30 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.,There are no indications of service connection via the PACT Act, Agent Orange exposure, Camp Lejeune, radiation exposure, Gulf War Syndrome, or new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, adjustment disorder, dysthymia, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), was incurred in active military service.

The veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA appeal records and VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorder is related to service. The veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The VA determined that the veteran's anxiety disorder results in reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's medical expenses for an EEG, minor eye surgery, and a sleep study were not authorized in advance by VA and therefore denied payment or reimbursement.

The Board has determined that the evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims for service connection, and thus the claims are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for psychoneurosis, anxiety reaction and personality disorders. The decision found that the veteran had a pre-existing psychiatric condition prior to service and did not worsen during his active duty. Personality disorders are not considered diseases under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including residuals of a head injury with memory loss, neck disorder, left wrist and ankle disorders, anxiety disorder, chest disorder, seizure disorder, and gunshot wound to the left arm, were not incurred in or aggravated by service.