Anxiety decisions — 2010

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

The Board has found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as anxiety disorder not otherwise specified, is etiologically related to active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining clinical service treatment records from Fort Richardson, Alaska. The issues of service connection for headaches and an acquired psychiatric disability remain inextricably intertwined.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including requesting a statement of specificity from the Veteran and his representative regarding their CUE claim. The new and material evidence issue will also be remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the CUE claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions in December 1968. New evidence submitted since then does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder manifested by Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and awarded an increased evaluation of 30 percent for the service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been granted. The Board finds the appeal moot as the benefit requested has already been granted.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, effective from September 25, 1998. The claim for TDIU has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied as he failed to report for the scheduled VA examination without showing good cause.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for another VA psychiatric examination to determine if his PTSD meets criteria for a higher rating, and whether he has depression or anxiety disorder as part of his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury is denied. Service connection is granted for hemorrhoids and an anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records prior to December 2005 and attempting to verify stressors related to his service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, affective disorder, and depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records from the Vet Center in Shreveport, Louisiana.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and anxiety symptoms, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for high cholesterol, anxiety, obstructive sleep apnea, headaches (undiagnosed), joint pain in left ankle, joint pain in both elbows, joint pain in both wrists, joint pain in both feet, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete and inconsistent evidence regarding the severity of his acquired psychiatric disorder, including private treatment records and VA examination reports. The case will be further developed to determine if a higher rating than 50 percent may be assigned.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of his anxiety disorder, including entitlement to individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, was granted effective February 20, 2008. The Board has determined that the earliest date as of which it is factually ascertainable that an increase in disability occurred is June 16, 2005.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including verification of stressors and VA examinations to address both direct service connection and aggravation issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with anxiety and depression is rated at 70 percent, which meets the criteria for a higher rating. The Board also found that he is entitled to TDIU benefits.