Anxiety decisions — 2008

The veteran's claim for increased evaluations for anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current psychiatric disability, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Intermittent Explosive Disorder. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a more recent VA examination and the acquisition of additional treatment records.

The Board found that the veteran did not have an acquired psychiatric disability in service, and there is no evidence linking his current psychiatric disabilities to service. The claim for PTSD was denied as well due to lack of credible supporting evidence of a verified stressor.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for VCAA-compliant notification and VA compensation examination reports.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the veteran's anxiety disorder and her military service. Therefore, both claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a paranoid personality disorder with situational anxiety and depression, finding new and material evidence. The case is remanded to allow for further development of records and an examination.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence linking the veteran's current depression, anxiety, and anger management issues to his military service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that an effective date of February 6, 1995 is warranted for the assignment of a 100 percent rating for generalized anxiety disorder with residual schizophrenia.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a compensable rating of his service-connected psychiatric disability. The Board finds that the appropriate effective date is January 25, 1994.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, including bilateral hearing loss, anxiety disorder, sleep apnea, body and leg cramps, or hypertension. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder, was not related to service. The claim for PTSD is being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset during service.

The veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and therefore DIC benefits are denied.

The Board has determined that the service-connected generalized anxiety disorder contributed substantially to the veteran's death, and thus grants service connection for the cause of death.

The veteran's generalized anxiety disorder has been rated as 30 percent disabling since March 26, 1986. The Board found that the condition was manifested by symptoms such as depressed mood and mild memory loss, resulting in moderate occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diagnosed adjustment disorder mixed with anxiety and depressed mood is due to his service in Vietnam, warranting service connection.

The veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with depressive features was rated at 10 percent from February 23, 1994 to March 22, 2001 and increased to 30 percent thereafter. The duodenal ulcer disease and colitis were initially rated at 10 percent from February 23, 1994 to March 28, 2003 and then increased to 20 percent effective May 1, 2003.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder with depression and anxiety is being remanded due to the failure to schedule a VA examination.

The veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder, with anxiety neurosis and depression, is manifested by total occupational impairment, suicidal ideations and repeated suicide attempts requiring hospitalization, as well as consistently low Global Assessment Functioning (GAF) scores, reflective of an inability to function in almost all areas. A 50 percent rating has been granted from May 7, 2004.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is due to his inpatient medical treatment for hepatitis during military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.