Anxiety decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's nervous disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks and alcohol dependence, are found to be secondary to service-connected disabilities. Service connection for hypertension is also granted as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability (claimed as sleeplessness, anxiety, chills symptoms, depression, nightmares and war intrusive thoughts) was granted. The Veteran also received a compensable evaluation (20%) for his bilateral hearing loss from December 30, 2008.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's depression with anxiety is currently rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The condition has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including recurrent major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. The lung disorder claim is denied as there is no separate diagnosis.

The Veteran was granted a 50% disability rating for his service-connected GAD effective March 22, 2005. The Board found that an earlier effective date is warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is causally linked to an in-service car accident, and thus service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the medical opinions are against a finding that any diagnosed conditions are related to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric pathology. The Veteran's participation in air combat support is accepted as valid.

The Veteran's claims for psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, inguinal hernias, Achilles tendonitis of the right foot, plantar fasciitis of the left foot, thoracic spine condition, erectile dysfunction, bilateral knee condition, and skin condition (psoriasis, warts, abscesses, cysts) have been reopened. Service connection has not been established for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examiner's opinion on whether the Veteran's anxiety disorder is related to service or pre-existed service.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric diagnosis and service connection issues.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and depression are found to be related to his military service.,PTSD was not diagnosed or linked to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO in St. Petersburg, Florida for clarification on his hearing request and scheduling a local hearing if desired.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder has been rated at 70 percent since February 9, 2001. The issue of a compensable rating for residuals of bilateral orchiopexy is remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with the Board's previous remand.

The Veteran's back disorder, heart disorder (to include hypertension), and tuberculosis were not incurred or aggravated by military service. The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting conditions existed prior to his entry into service and did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during service.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, a cardiovascular disorder, and a psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's initial rating for his generalized anxiety disorder with PTSD features has been increased to 30 percent, effective from May 15, 2001. Service connection was granted for hypertension and a seizure disorder, but the Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder and PTSD have not presented so exceptional or unusual a disability picture as to render impractical the application of the regular schedular standards, thus no higher rating on an extra-schedular basis is warranted.