Anxiety decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue, nervousness, shortness of breath, sleep problems, chest pain, and joint pain as due to 'Gulf War Syndrome' or as manifestations of undiagnosed illness due to service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied since November 1992, and the claim for a low back disability was denied since July 1992. The Veteran's IBS is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further review due to a lack of adequate reasons or bases in the Board's decision, and other procedural issues.

The Board found that the cause of death (coronary artery disease) was not caused by or a result of the Veteran's service-connected anxiety reaction, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's son, S.G., is permanently incapable of self-support due to multiple mental and physical impairments since prior to his 18th birthday. The Board finds that the evidence supports granting helpless child status for VA benefits purposes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to address whether the Veteran was sexually assaulted during service and if he developed PTSD or other psychiatric disorders as a result.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder began during service and is related to his military service, thus granting service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for hypertension and service connection for anxiety disorder (claimed as PTSD) and hearing loss with tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating or service connection.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of this claim.

The Veteran's hypertension and anxiety disorder are being remanded for further examination to determine their etiology. The appeal is also remanded due to incomplete service records.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to lack of service records documenting the Veteran's claimed personal assault and need for a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, which includes Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Depression, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The Veteran's current mental health issues are found to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any diagnosed psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service stressor. The claim for anxiety disorder other than PTSD was also denied as there is no competent or credible evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression and anxiety with anger has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal of these issues in February 2006. The case is being remanded to obtain VA treatment records, review the private medical records, and provide a definitive opinion regarding the etiology of hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder contributed to his fatal cardiomyopathy, reducing his ability to rehabilitate and medicate which caused a more rapid deterioration of his physical health and condition. The Board finds that the Veteran's psychiatric disability was not the only contributing cause of his death but did contribute.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder, degenerative changes of the left knee, and status post arthroscopy of the right knee have been granted initial ratings of 10 percent each. The claim for higher initial ratings remains before the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder with sleep disturbance is proximately due to his service-connected psoriasis and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as an anxiety disorder, is granted. The evidence establishes a current diagnosis of an anxiety disorder and causally relates it to his military service in Iraq.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his anxiety disorder was denied. The evidence showed that the Veteran had occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency, but not to the level required for a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's anxiety disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service and the gap between any post-service symptoms and service is significant.