Anxiety Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including arachnoid brain cysts, anemia, anxiety disorder, nerve damage, headaches, impaired speech patterns, angina pectoris, lumbar spinal stenosis, and stomach pain. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's time in service.

The Board has reopened the claims for PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorder based on new evidence received since May 2003. The claim for hypertension remains denied as no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Board denied service connection for anxiety disorder, a right shoulder disability, a left shoulder disability, and a low back disability. The claim of reopening the previously denied anxiety disorder was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death was not caused or contributed to by any service-connected disabilities, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and nerve condition are not service-connected. The Board denied his claim for an increased rating for PTSD, finding that the current level of disability does not warrant a higher rating. His TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and sleep apnea were not found to be related to his military service, but rather secondary to other service-connected conditions. The claims for higher ratings on the remaining issues are also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability is currently rated at 50 percent, and his cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors and the diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder. The claim will be further developed by obtaining service personnel records, verifying alleged stressors, and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of his anxiety neurosis and duodenal ulcer.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, psychiatric disability (anxiety and nervousness), skin disability, respiratory disability, neurological disability, bilateral femoral epicondylitis, insomnia, and gastritis.

The Veteran's service-connected depression and anxiety are rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of the May 2004 rating decision. The Board found that a higher initial rating is not warranted for these conditions.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is not manifested by occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, now diagnosed as anxiety-depression reaction with bipolar disorder. The issue of whether he had such a condition in service and if it is related to military service remains under consideration.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent, the highest schedular rating available. The claim for a TDIU has also been granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety disorder and defective vision, exotropia, and amblyopia exanopsia (claimed as a right eye condition). The decision is based on the lack of new and material evidence to reopen the claim for defective vision, exotropia, and amblyopia exanopsia. Service connection for anxiety disorder was not granted due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of Meniere's disease has been denied. The issue of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residual imbalance status-post right ear tympanotomy with labyrinthotomy and dexamethosone perfusion, and transcanal underlay tympanoplasty remains pending as the Veteran was granted a 10% evaluation effective the day following separation from service. The claims for service connection of left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected anxiety disorder and differentiate between disability due to service and other causes.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is manifested by occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency, resulting in a 30 percent evaluation effective January 22, 2007.

The Veteran's anxiety reaction with personality disorder is rated at 50 percent, reflecting moderate symptoms and impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder from March 27, 2006 was rated at a 50 percent disability rating.