Anxiety decisions — 2010

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent disabling, effective October 24, 2001. The claim for service connection for lung cancer remains pending as the basis for this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, was incurred during active military service. The claim is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, anxiety, and depression are related to his service in Vietnam. The claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the claim due to the need for further development, including a VA examination to determine whether the appellant needs aid and attendance (A&A) or is housebound (HB).

The Board has granted the appellant's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for depression and anxiety disorder. The evidence submitted since the last final denial indicates that the appellant currently suffers from these conditions, which are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with major depressive disorder and panic disorder, is found to be related to service. The diagnosis of PTSD was not met due to the number of avoidance or numbing symptoms, but the stressors were deemed sufficient for a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is proximately due to and aggravated by his service-connected left knee disabilities, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and therefore his cause of death claim is denied.

The appellant withdrew her appeals for entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and for DIC benefits.,The March 1978 rating decision denying TDIU was not found to contain CUE.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional VA treatment records and provide the Veteran with an opinion regarding the etiology of his anxiety disorder, as well as consider amended regulations for service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating and TDIU was granted, with a 70 percent disability rating effective March 12, 2004.

The Veteran's claims for ulcers, hair loss, anxiety/stress, rash, headaches, muscle pains, extreme fatigue, and weakness are all denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and lumbar spine condition have been granted service connection. The anxiety disorder is linked to his in-service mental health symptoms, while the lumbar spine condition is considered secondary to his right foot disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for anxiety and depression has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether there is a relationship between the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder and his period of service. As such, the Veteran is entitled to the benefit of the doubt, and service connection for a psychiatric disorder (mood disorder with anxiety) is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include a panic disorder with agoraphobia, an anxiety disorder, and depression as secondary to asthma are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board found no evidence to support a service connection for any psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder. The Veteran's current diagnoses are attributed to alcohol abuse and not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's anxiety disorder, to include obsessive compulsive disorder, chronic, severe, finding that it was aggravated by his active duty service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent, effective from December 20, 2005. The Board found that his symptoms warranted this higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran seeks service connection for depression, anxiety, poor sleep, and poor concentration, to include as secondary to bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. He also seeks TDIU benefits based on his service-connected disabilities. The case is being remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA examination.