Anxiety decisions — 2009

The veteran's service connection for residuals of a low back injury was granted, while the claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for anxiety disorder with somatic features and for service connection for residuals of a hip injury were denied.

The veteran is not entitled to an effective date prior to May 7, 2002 for the grant of a 100 percent disability rating for his generalized anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has been manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but not to the extent of deficiencies in most areas. A rating in excess of 50 percent is therefore not warranted.

The Board granted an initial schedular rating of 50 percent for anxiety disorder, NOS, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for anxiety neurosis, as the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an anxiety disorder, migraine headaches, and dyspepsia/stomach problems as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen these previously denied claims.

The veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for hypertension and a psychiatric disorder, to include GAD, as there was no evidence of chronic symptoms in service or continuous symptoms after service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an anxiety disorder, to include depression; pes cavus; gastroesophageal reflux disease; and periodontal disease as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these disabilities, or medical evidence of a nexus between her disabilities and service.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased evaluation of anxiety reaction, currently rated at 50 percent.

The Board granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder but denied service connection for Meniere's disease and peptic ulcer disease (PUD).

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection and increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not support an earlier date than January 13, 2006.

The veteran's service-connected anxiety reaction with bowel symptoms, rated at 70 percent disabling, renders him eligible for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The appeal is remanded for further development, including a medical opinion on the relationship between the veteran's stroke and his service-connected heart disease.

The veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is not manifested by symptoms that would warrant a disability rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's symptoms did not warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent for the period from October 1, 2003, to July 23, 2007, and in excess of 70 percent from July 24, 2007.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and anxiety/stress, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for diabetes mellitus and that there was no evidence relating any currently diagnosed mental disorder to active duty.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the current degenerative changes are likely due to an in-service motor vehicle accident. The claim for anxiety neurosis was reopened but not adjudicated on its merits.

The veteran's disability manifested by an anxiety disorder is due to disease or injury that was incurred in active service.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and an anxiety disorder as there was no evidence of these conditions in service or within a reasonable time thereafter, and the current conditions were not related to service.