Anxiety Board decisions

The veteran claims service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia. The RO needs to obtain all relevant medical records from the Fort Sam Houston medical facility in San Antonio, Texas (from 1962), as well as from other health care facilities where the veteran received treatment for his psychiatric disorders. A psychiatric examination should be scheduled to determine if there is a link between the veteran's military service and his current psychiatric conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's generalized anxiety disorder does not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent, as his symptoms do not result in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, specifically anxiety disorder with depressive features, finding that there is no medical evidence linking this condition to his active military service.

The veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for generalized anxiety disorder was denied as the condition is not service-connected and his current impairment is due to alcohol abuse, which predates service.

The Board has granted service connection for obsessive-compulsive disorder with generalized anxiety and insomnia, finding that the veteran's symptoms were present during active duty. Service connection was also granted for tension headaches, though a current disability is not established.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for VCAA notification and additional development of evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's nicotine dependency with anxiety warrants a 30 percent rating, effective from when his disability was first service-connected in March 1997.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have PTSD, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current psychiatric disorders to his service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The VA denied a higher initial disability evaluation for the appellant's generalized anxiety disorder, assigning a 50 percent rating effective November 3, 2004.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder warrants a 50 percent disability rating, but does not render him individually unemployable.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected anxiety disorder, currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's dysthymic disorder with anxiety warrants a 50 percent disability rating since October 3, 1990.

The veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent effective July 1, 2003. His psoriasis/asteatotic eczema remains at a 30 percent rating since December 6, 2000.

The Board has reopened the claims for a low back disorder and gastrointestinal disorder, but denied reopening of the anxiety disorder claim. The case is being remanded to further develop evidence related to the low back disorder.

The Board found that the veteran's personality disorder and depression did not pre-exist service or were aggravated by service, and thus denied service connection for these conditions. The Board also noted that there was no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD due to combat exposure.

The veteran's anxiety with psychophysiologic gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal reaction is productive of occasional depressed mood, occasional anxiety, and subjective complaint of acid reflux resulting in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency but not resulting in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his service-connected disabilities are being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.