Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's son, T., was permanently incapable of self-support prior to his 18th birthday for purposes of accrued benefits and benefits due and payable subsequent to the veteran's death.

The veteran is entitled to payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred at the Silliman University Medical Center from September 13, 1998, to September 16, 1998. The other issues were denied.

The veteran's generalized anxiety disorder was granted service connection effective November 18, 2002. The right shoulder tendonitis and impingement syndrome were granted service connection effective January 15, 2003.,The veteran is entitled to a higher initial evaluation for his generalized anxiety disorder from December 11, 2002 to January 24, 2005. He is not entitled to an increased rating after that date.

The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety disorder, which was first diagnosed after service, is related to his military service and has been granted service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for revision of a May 1971 rating decision denying service connection for an anxiety reaction, finding no clear and unmistakable error (CUE). The RO correctly considered all evidence before it and applied appropriate laws and regulations.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for post-operative scar residuals of pilonidal cyst and denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include an anxiety disorder and PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, right hand tremor, breathing problems, a cyst on the spine, hypertension, left leg neuropathy, anxiety and depression, heart condition with bundle branch block, and degenerative arthritis of the back.

The Board found that the service-connected conditions did not contribute to the veteran's cause of death, which was congestive heart failure. The Board concluded that pes planus and anxiety disorder were not related to the veteran's immobility or edema.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his psychiatric disability and to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The heart disability claim was also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions of residuals of a head injury, to include depression and anxiety, were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder. The evidence did not support the veteran's assertions of in-service stress or combat exposure.

The veteran's anxiety disorder was initially rated at 30 percent from October 18, 2000 to November 15, 2005. A subsequent increased rating to 70 percent was granted effective from November 15, 2005.,An earlier effective date of October 18, 2000 for the 30 percent evaluation is not warranted.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and anxiety disorders, finding that there was no credible in-service stressor and insufficient medical evidence linking the current psychiatric conditions to service.

The veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with headaches is currently rated at 50 percent, which reflects occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as flattened affect, impaired memory, and difficulty in establishing effective work and social relationships. The disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including a tumor in the spine, degenerative disc disease, bilateral hearing loss, and a nervous condition (adjustment disorder with anxiety), were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's psychiatric disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, warrants a 100 percent rating due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hip disability, but denied the remaining claims as there is no current chronic acquired psychiatric disability or a chronic gynecological disability related to an endometrial polyp.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 50 percent for the service-connected anxiety disorder, finding that the disability did not meet criteria warranting a higher evaluation.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to procedural and evidentiary deficiencies.