Anxiety decisions — 2009

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has been granted service connection and assigned a disability rating of 0 percent, effective January 16, 2007. The Board found that the criteria for an initial rating of 10 percent but not higher have been met.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted. Other claims were not addressed due to the need for additional development.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to a withdrawal request from the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including benign tumors of the colon, migraines, hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy, psychiatric disorders, and vascular diseases. The appeal was reopened on new evidence.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current anxiety and depression to his military service, thus denying both claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including depression and a 'mental condition', degenerative disc disease, hearing loss, hepatitis C, and tinnitus. The effective date for any future grant of these claims would be determined based on new evidence presented.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as his back and neurological conditions are the primary factors preventing employment.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for generalized anxiety disorder was improper and restored service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's suicide was caused by a psychiatric disability that developed during service, and thus grants service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for clarification on whether he has ALS, which could affect his service connection claim. The service connection claim for ALS is also being remanded.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service records and verifying National Guard and Reserve service. The Veteran's claim will be adjudicated again after this additional development.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is found to be the result of his military service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including arachnoid brain cysts, anemia, anxiety disorder, nerve damage, headaches, impaired speech patterns, angina pectoris, lumbar spinal stenosis, and stomach pain. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's time in service.

The Board has reopened the claims for PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorder based on new evidence received since May 2003. The claim for hypertension remains denied as no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Board denied service connection for anxiety disorder, a right shoulder disability, a left shoulder disability, and a low back disability. The claim of reopening the previously denied anxiety disorder was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death was not caused or contributed to by any service-connected disabilities, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and nerve condition are not service-connected. The Board denied his claim for an increased rating for PTSD, finding that the current level of disability does not warrant a higher rating. His TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and sleep apnea were not found to be related to his military service, but rather secondary to other service-connected conditions. The claims for higher ratings on the remaining issues are also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability is currently rated at 50 percent, and his cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.