Anxiety decisions — 2009

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints has been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal. The case is being remanded for additional development related to his claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, claimed as panic attacks, social phobia, claustrophobia, anxiety attacks, and depression.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety and depressive disorder is related to his active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has been rated at 30 percent since June 9, 2003. The VA determined that the condition does not warrant a higher rating based on the severity of symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS is a result of his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are related to her military service. The claim is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim for service connection as his acquired psychiatric disorder did not have its onset in or was aggravated by service, and there is no evidence of record to support a finding that it preexisted service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death. The appellant-widow is seeking service connection for the cause of her husband's death, which was attributed to COPD.

The Board has ordered that the Veteran should be provided an additional VA psychiatric examination to determine if her diagnosed psychiatric disorders are at least as likely as not related to service. The case is REMANDED for this purpose.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 15, 1997 for the grant of a 70 percent disability rating for GAD and a TDIU due to service-connected GAD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and lack of rationale in the medical opinions provided. The appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and entitlement to DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 are being returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not competent to handle her VA benefits due to her mental incapacity.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and adjudicating any outstanding claims. The veteran's service-connected disabilities are being considered to determine if they render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The VA has determined that the veteran's generalized anxiety disorder does not warrant an increased evaluation beyond the current 30 percent rating.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of death, but finds that further development is necessary to determine if the Veteran's service-connected anxiety reaction contributed to his death.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current anxiety disorder is not causally or etiologically related to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and found that new and material evidence has been submitted. The case will be remanded to determine if there is a nexus between the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders and his active service.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and therefore DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety), finding no evidence of these conditions in service or linking them to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration of his claims, including potential service connection for PTSD and a lung disorder secondary to PTSD.