Anxiety Board decisions

The Board found no current disability for anxiety disorder with insomnia, chronic left hip disability, or low back disability. Therefore, service connection was denied.

The veteran's residual anxiety with a history of PTSD manifests with occupational and social impairment, warranting a 30 percent evaluation.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities (anxiety, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus) do not render him unemployable due to their severity. The Board found that the veteran is capable of maintaining substantially gainful employment despite his anxiety symptoms and hearing loss.

The veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks and dysthymia is currently rated at 70 percent, effective December 10, 2001. The RO has not granted a higher rating for this condition.,The veteran's service-connected multiple abdominal disorders are currently rated at 30 percent, effective August 30, 2002. The RO has not granted a higher rating for these conditions.,Prior to August 30, 2002, the veteran's service-connected dermatitis of the hands is rated at 10 percent. Since August 30, 2002, it is rated at 30 percent. The RO has not granted a higher rating for these conditions.,The veteran is currently assigned a combined rating of 90 percent due to her service-connected disabilities. She meets the criteria for TDIU based on her educational background and work experience.,The appeal does not involve any presumption, secondary connection, aggravation, or new and material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims, finding that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate his claim for service connection for psychiatric disorders beyond anxiety neurosis and found that the current evaluation of 10 percent for anxiety neurosis adequately reflects the severity of the disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims for service connection can be properly adjudicated.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current psychiatric conditions, including anxiety disorder, depression, dysthymia, and chronic pain syndrome, are not related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have PTSD and his psychiatric disorder is related to service. However, there was no evidence of a current skin disorder due to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and anxiety. The decision also denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. However, the issue of an initial evaluation in excess of zero percent for left ear hearing loss is pending as it has been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma. The claim for an increased evaluation for bronchial asthma is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety reaction and hypertension, finding no evidence of chronic conditions or continuity of symptomatology since service. The claim for service connection for a positive TB tine test result was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for psychoneurosis, anxiety reaction due to a lack of evidence showing that his current psychiatric condition was incurred or aggravated by service. The preexisting condition was not shown to have been aggravated during service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's central nervous system damage, including brain damage and attention deficit disorder, was aggravated by his active duty for training. The psychiatric disorder, specifically a depressive disorder with anxiety, is considered to be secondary to the now service-connected central nervous system damage due to head injuries during active duty for training. Headaches are also found to have been incurred in active duty for training.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected anxiety neurosis caused his alcoholism, which in turn led to cardiovascular-renal disease and contributed to his death. Therefore, service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The VA has granted service connection for anxiety disorder (claimed as PTSD) and assigned an initial rating of 30 percent, effective March 29, 2004. The veteran's symptoms include sleep disturbance, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, anxiety, exaggerated startle response, avoidance behavior, and discomfort in crowds.

The Board found no CUE in the October 1984 decision denying service connection for the cause of death, and denied the motion for revision.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed anxiety disorder, including claustrophobia and PTSD, as well as his heart murmur. The case will be reviewed again after these actions.

The Board has determined that no new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain medical records from the Briggs outpatient clinic between 1957 and 1959 and to formally adjudicate the issue of whether the August 1957 rating decision contained CUE.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a valid period of military service from 1942 to August 7, 1946 and was not a POW for VA purposes. Therefore, his claims related to this time period are denied.

The Board denied service connection for anxiety disorder and a compensable disability rating for the left hand scar. The veteran's attempt to reopen these claims was unsuccessful due to lack of new and material evidence.