Anxiety decisions — 2008

The Board has remanded the case for compliance with prior remand instructions, including providing proper VCAA notice and obtaining a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current psychiatric disabilities are related to service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an anxiety disorder related to his military service and denied both his claims for service connection for anxiety disorder and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the veteran does not have PTSD and denied his claim for service connection.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to address them on a new and material basis. Additionally, his hypertension claim is also being remanded for further examination.

The VA has granted service connection for anxiety disorder and assigned a 50 percent rating effective from the date of service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic psychiatric disorder in service and denied the claim for service connection for depression as secondary to service-connected rheumatic fever.

The Board found insufficient evidence to support the veteran's claims for PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder. The claim was denied as there is no credible supporting evidence of the claimed in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to obtain SSA records and other procedural issues, including notification requirements under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and concluded that his acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depressive disorders, is not related to service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hypertension, as new and material evidence has been received. The claim for service connection for anxiety was also reopened.,Evidence submitted since the September 2003 decision includes medical opinions linking the appellant's current anxiety to his military service.

The veteran's anxiety disorder, left knee disorder, and residuals of brain concussion have been evaluated at the lowest possible ratings due to the absence of certain symptoms required for higher evaluations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed generalized anxiety disorder and PTSD are not related to his military service, and thus denied the claim.

The VA has determined that the veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed type anxiety and depressed mood warrants a 30 percent rating since October 16, 2002. The disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral knee disability, disability manifested by chest pain, or sleep apnea. The claims for service connection for these conditions are therefore denied. Service connection is granted for a psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder), heel spurs, and bilateral shoulder arthritis.

The veteran's PTSD with anxiety neurosis has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a rating of 70 percent.

The veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, which grants a higher rating than the original 30 percent. The effective date for this increased rating has not been specified.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination.

The VA has granted a 50 percent rating for generalized anxiety disorder, but the veteran's claim for increased ratings remains pending. The VA also denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of Generalized Anxiety Disorder, finding that the claim was not filed prior to July 20, 2004.