Anxiety decisions — 2010

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, finding no new and material evidence. The claim for ankylosis of the knees remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and sleeping disorder are service connected, with the latter being related to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety and depression, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the Board finds that Alzheimer's disease did not have its onset in service or is otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The evidence received since April 1997 is new and material, meeting the requirements to reopen the claim.

The VA determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder with alcohol abuse does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and anxiety disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than what was already assigned.

The Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and a special home adaptation grant are being remanded due to the addition of new evidence since the last decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical records and unclear service personnel records regarding the Veteran's claimed stressors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to require the aid and attendance of another, meeting the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance. The claim for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate is moot due to the higher rate set for aid and attendance.

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

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric condition, including anxiety, panic, depressive and posttraumatic stress disorders, was denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition during service or a verified in-service stressor. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the appellant's anxiety and depression are related to his service-connected hepatitis C.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, effective March 29, 2008. Prior to that date, the rating was increased to 50 percent in April 2008.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claim can be properly adjudicated, including providing VCAA notice and obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected anxiety neurosis caused or contributed to his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple conditions, including nausea, diarrhea, bleeding, increased susceptibility to infection, blood clots in legs, scars from infected scratches, pneumonia, high fever, rare virus, skin peeling off body, vomiting, growth on kidneys, boil on genitals, intestinal polyp, diverticulosis (claimed as irritation and small tear in intestine), pancreatitis (claimed as pancreas infection), headaches (claimed as pain on the side of his head), paroxysmal positional vertigo (claimed as inner ear problems with dizziness), memory loss and anxiety, coronary artery disease (claimed as heart attack), and pilonidal cyst were denied. The Veteran's only service-connected disability is malaria, rated noncompensably disabling.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting special monthly compensation based on this need.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and GAD, is considered to be related to his service. Service connection for these conditions has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and attempting to verify the existence of claimed stressors related to PTSD. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood remains on hold.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination and notification of all five elements of a service connection claim.