Anxiety Board decisions

The veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent, the highest possible rating under DC 9400. His muscle disability in the neck with retained foreign body remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but granted service connection for an anxiety disorder. The current rating for bilateral hearing loss is 20 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic right heel pain and adjustment disorder with depressed mood and anxiety have been denied. The evidence does not show that the conditions warrant a higher rating.

The veteran's service-connected conditions, including dysthymic disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and traumatic arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, did not render him unemployable prior to March 24, 2005. His psychiatric condition was considered moderate in nature, and his low back disability caused only slight limitation of motion.

The VA Board found that the veteran's anxiety reaction has not caused significant occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. Therefore, a higher rating is denied.

The Board determined that the veteran's current psychiatric conditions are not related to his military service and denied the claims.

The VA has denied the appellant's request for a higher initial rating of 30 percent for his adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, finding that his symptoms are indicative of no more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent inability to perform tasks.

The veteran's anxiety reaction and panic disorder with agoraphobia are currently rated at 30 percent, warranting a higher rating. The paresthesia and tingling in the scalp issue is not supported by evidence of service connection.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an opinion on whether the veteran's cardiovascular disease was caused or aggravated by his service-connected interstitial fibrosis. The appeal is also for accrued benefits, and a statement of the case must be issued.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and verifying stressors. The veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the newly obtained evidence.

The Board dismissed the claim of clear and unmistakable error in the July 1975 and September 1975 RO decisions regarding severance of service connection for anxiety reaction with depressive features, as these decisions were subsumed by the November 1976 Board decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development and examination, including a determination of the impact her psychiatric disability has had on her ability to work versus the impact from organic disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran timely filed a substantive appeal regarding the March 2003 rating decision, which granted a 10 percent rating for peptic ulcer disease and denied service connection for several other conditions. The issues of reopening previously denied claims and seeking an earlier effective date remain with the RO.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for residuals, encephalopathy, traumatic with hypochondrial reaction. The veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation due to occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The VA Board of Veterans' Appeals found that the veteran does not have PTSD resulting from military service and denied her claim for service connection.

The veteran is not entitled to retroactive payment at the $2,239 monthly rate from June 6, 1981 as he was not rated as totally disabled until September 28, 2004.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The veteran's anxiety disorder resulted in total social and industrial impairment since May 16, 2005. Prior to that date, the evidence did not demonstrate severe symptoms.