Anxiety decisions — 2010

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including depression, mood changes, anxiety, bone degeneration of the L5-S1, swelling in multiple body parts, and weight gain, all secondary to his service-connected Addison's disease. The case is being remanded for further examination and development.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, claimed as a nervous condition, is found to be due to service and the Board grants service connection for this disability.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain more complete records of the Veteran's terminal hospitalization and post-service medical records, including treatment of service-connected disabilities in the period prior to his death. The goal is to provide an opinion as to whether any service-connected disability was a contributing cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an increased rating for his left knee disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with PTSD symptoms has been rated at 50 percent since January 17, 2006. The rating is based on the criteria for generalized anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder have resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent rating.

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and anxiety disorder.

The Board has remanded the case to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office for further proceedings consistent with a recent Court decision in Clemons v. Shinseki, which held that a claim for PTSD should not be limited to only that diagnosis but should also consider other mental disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Vet Center records and verifying in-service stressors. The appellant's psychiatric disorders will be evaluated to determine if they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's anxiety neurosis with PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective May 10, 2006. The claim for an earlier effective date has been granted and the earliest possible effective date is February 25, 2004.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for further examination. The Veteran's service is being considered as potentially aggravating his current psychiatric disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, depression and generalized anxiety disorder due to the Veteran's credible identification of in-service stressors during World War II.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of anxiety neurosis/psychological disorder, but denied it on the merits.

The Veteran's emergency room treatment for a service-connected migraine headache was deemed necessary due to the severity of his condition and the infeasibility of reaching VA facilities within a reasonable time. The Board found that reimbursement should be granted under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1728.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and depression (not otherwise specified) were found to have been incurred during active military service.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development to determine if there is a material causal role of the Veteran's service-connected anxiety disability in his death or any underlying conditions.

The Veteran's claim for additional special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance of another person is denied as he does not meet the criteria for such benefits due to his ability to dress, undress himself, keep himself clean, feed himself, attend to his wants of nature, and function independently.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of June 14, 1999 for his TDIU benefits. The evidence did not show that he was unable to maintain a substantially gainful occupation prior to this date.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent evaluation.