Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining SSA records and issuing a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) citing to 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f). The veteran's claim is pending as both service connection and reopening of PTSD claims are at issue.

The veteran's claims for higher disability evaluations for his service-connected scars, anxiety, and headaches status post concussive syndrome were denied. The RO found that the current ratings adequately reflected the severity of these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's generalized anxiety disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating than 50 percent, as it did not cause significant impairment in most areas such as work and social functioning.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically a generalized anxiety disorder. The case is now remanded for further development including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, while his schizophrenia (with paranoid features) remains at the maximum 50 percent rating. The decision on each condition is separate and does not affect the other.

The Board found no evidence of hypertension or anxiety during service, and denied both claims as there is insufficient medical evidence to link these conditions to service.

The VA denied a higher initial disability evaluation for the veteran's anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified (previously claimed as PTSD), rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete examination findings.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's claimed generalized anxiety disorder with agoraphobia, including whether it is related to his service-connected Meniere's syndrome.

The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety disorder warrants a 50 percent disability rating, but not higher. The evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of this level.

The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety disorder and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine are related to his in-service jeep accident, granting service connection for both conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluation of anxiety reaction, service connection for bilateral hydronephrosis, renal insufficiency, and PTSD were denied. The claim for TDIU was also denied as the evidence did not show that the veteran is precluded from substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a colon disorder, and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The claims to reopen previously denied claims for duodenal ulcer and anxiety neurosis with psychophysiological gastrointestinal reaction (nervous condition) were also denied.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and providing the veteran with VCAA notice. The case will be reviewed again after these steps are completed.

The veteran's initial evaluation for generalized anxiety disorder was granted at a 30 percent rating, effective August 16, 1996. The Board found that the current disability picture most nearly approximates a 50 percent evaluation due to moderate to serious symptoms.

The Board has granted an increased rating to 50 percent for the veteran's service-connected panic disorder, with agoraphobia and generalized anxiety disorder, with a history of PTSD. The disability is characterized by symptoms such as nervousness, panic attacks, anxiety, memory loss, and irritability.

The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for generalized anxiety disorder prior to August 24, 2001.

The veteran's service-connected depressive reaction with anxiety features is currently rated at 50 percent, and the claim for an increased evaluation has been granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected anxiety disorder and for service connection for an epilepsy/seizure disorder. The decision found that the veteran's anxiety disorder was manifested by symptoms that were productive of not more than occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent disability rating.

The April 1969 rating decision granting service connection for anxiety reaction and assigning a 10 percent initial rating was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.