Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if any currently diagnosed psychiatric disability is related to service and whether the veteran was exposed to in-service stressors that could lead to PTSD. The veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and irritable bowel syndrome are related to his service, with the psychiatric disorder being granted as a result of in-service events. The IBS is also found to be secondary to the service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than December 8, 1992 for the award of service connection for anxiety reaction with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The earliest possible effective date is based on the date of receipt of the original claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with anxiety and depression, is reasonably attributable to his service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, bowel and anxiety disorders (claimed as ulcerative colitis with mild anxiety state), right total knee arthroplasty, traumatic arthritis of the right knee, bilateral eye condition, and TDIU. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim for bowel and anxiety disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records. The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of her husband's death due to his service-connected conditions.

The veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with PTSD features and right ear hearing loss have been granted service connection, but the evaluations are at their minimum (10%) since November 27, 2002.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, had its onset during service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for PTSD and anxiety, assigning a 10 percent rating from November 29, 2001 to November 17, 2003, and a 30 percent rating from November 18, 2003. The decision is based on the veteran's symptoms of intrusive memories, flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, irritability, and difficulty sleeping.

The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety reaction did not meet the criteria for a disability evaluation in excess of 30 percent prior to July 19, 1999 or in excess of 50 percent as of July 19, 1999.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for chorioretinitis, service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and headaches, all of which were secondary to his service-connected chorioretinitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current anxiety disorder is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the veteran's service-connected disabilities were at least as likely as not the immediate or underlying cause of his death. The appeal is also remanded to determine eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. Chapter 35.

The Board denied service connection for both psychiatric disability (including PTSD) and a dental disorder, finding no evidence of such conditions in service or related to service.

The veteran's claimed conditions, including ulcerative colitis, seizure disorder, psychiatric disorder (anxiety/stress), and respiratory disorder (reactive airway disease and chronic cough) are not shown to have had their clinical onset in service or be due to any event or incident therein. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred as a result of his active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The issues regarding increased ratings for service-connected lumbosacral strain and generalized anxiety disorder, as well as a total disability rating based on individual unemployability, are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current psychiatric disability related to his military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's pituitary tumor, anxiety disorder, and cardiac disorder (claimed as atrial tachycardia) are not service-connected due to Agent Orange exposure. The Board found no evidence of these conditions during service or within one year post-service, and the medical evidence does not link them to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has granted a 50 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected PTSD, effective from April 2004.