Anxiety Board decisions

The veteran's anxiety disorder prior to November 24, 2004 warranted a rating of 30 percent. From that date, the VA found no evidence warranting an increase in his disability rating.

The veteran seeks an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD and a 100 percent schedular rating for anxiety reaction with depression and PTSD with psychosis. The Board denied this claim, finding that the February 1997 rating action became final due to lack of appeal on the effective date issue.

The veteran's case is being remanded due to the need for a comprehensive medical review of his claim file by a VA psychiatric examiner to determine if his acquired mental disorders are causally related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The issue of secondary service connection for PTSD and tinnitus will also be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for anxiety (claimed as nightmares), headaches, a skin disorder, and a back disorder due to new evidence received since previous decisions.

The Board granted a 60 percent rating for arteriosclerotic heart disease and found the veteran unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, granting TDIU.

The Board found that the cause of death was not related to service or a service-connected disability, and did not meet the requirements for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance under chapter 35.

The Board has determined that the appellant's generalized anxiety disorder is attributable to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and PTSD, finding that these conditions are related to the veteran's military service.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current residuals from head trauma or generalized anxiety disorder related to service, thus denying both claims.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his anxiety reaction is being remanded due to the need for updated medical records and an examination.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 70 percent for the veteran's anxiety reaction, which is more than the current 50 percent evaluation. The decision finds that the veteran's condition now meets the criteria for a 70 percent rating due to significant social impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current anxiety disorder and body dysmorphic disorder are at least as likely as not related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death due to new and material evidence submitted. The veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, is found to have contributed substantially or materially to his fatal stroke.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and a need for further medical opinions regarding the veteran's generalized anxiety disorder, including its potential connection to service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the inability to locate his service medical records and verify stressor information. The case will be returned to the RO after further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD, along with his major depression and generalized anxiety disorder, results in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The criteria for a 50% rating have been met.

The veteran's spouse, who was divorced from the veteran at the time of his death, is not recognized as the surviving spouse for VA benefits due to a lack of legal authority recognizing such after divorce.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder should be March 17, 1993.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and determining whether an extra-schedular rating is warranted.

The veteran's anxiety disorder was granted service connection in May 1974, but the effective date for this grant has been adjusted to March 31, 1993.