Anxiety decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and requesting a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected anxiety reaction contributed to his hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, left ankle and knee disorders, and residuals of a concussion, cervical spine injury, and back injury are not related to her military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD. The appeal is granted to this extent only.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, were not incurred or aggravated during active service. The evidence did not establish a link between his current symptoms and in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for presbyopia was denied. The claims for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), tinnitus, residuals of a left foot injury, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and a condition of the eyes (other than presbyopia) are pending.

The Board found no evidence of a current psychiatric disorder in service and noted that the Veteran's post-service treatment records indicate he first received psychiatric care over six years after discharge. The VA examiner concluded that his current psychiatric disability was likely caused by alcohol and drug dependence, rather than military service.

The Board denied service connection for a shrapnel wound and denied an increased rating for PTSD and anxiety reaction with hysterical trends, finding no evidence of a shrapnel wound in service and noting that the Veteran's current symptoms are not due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's cause of death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by his service-connected disabilities. The Board finds that the lung cancer, which is listed as the immediate cause of death, did not arise during his military service and there is no evidence linking it to any service-connected condition.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD, but granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and dysthymic disorder based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination at the nearest VAMC in Arkansas.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The evidence did not show an in-service occurrence or stressor related to service and there was no direct link between his current psychiatric disabilities and service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with depression and anxiety, finding that the Veteran's diagnosis is supported by a verified in-service stressor of rocket attacks while stationed in Da Nang, Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for major depression with generalized anxiety disorder was granted, and he is now rated at 50 percent. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen his previously denied eye disability claim remains pending.

The Veteran's anxiety reaction with alcoholism is rated at the maximum disability rating of 100 percent, and he is granted special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was rated at 30 percent disabling, and the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted based on the criteria provided.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorder due to a lack of credible evidence supporting the occurrence of the claimed in-service stressors.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety reaction is currently rated at 30 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation. The Board also denied his claim for TDIU as his combined rating of 50 percent does not meet the required percentage threshold.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional service records and examining the Veteran to determine the nature of his psychiatric and neurological disabilities.

The Board denied entitlement to service connection for various disabilities, including head injury with memory loss, neck disorder, left wrist disorder, left ankle disorder, anxiety disorder, chest disorder, and seizure disorder or residuals of a gunshot wound to the left arm. The Veteran's claim was not granted as he failed to cooperate by failing to report for scheduled examinations.