Anxiety Board decisions

The veteran's appeal for an increased rating for anxiety reaction was dismissed due to his death.

The veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent, and his hepatitis C is rated at 10 percent. The issue of a separate evaluation for headaches remains unresolved.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the schedular requirements for assignment of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The VA has denied the veteran's request for an increased rating for his duodenal ulcer and service connection for anxiety disorder. The Board found no evidence of a current duodenal ulcer, and thus denied the claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including anxiety with depression. The evidence submitted since the January 1998 rating decision does not provide a sufficient basis to reopen the claim.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for cause of death due to cerebrovascular accident, finding that there was no evidence linking the veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder to his death.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and VCAA compliance.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the St. Louis RO.

The Board found that a rating in excess of 30 percent for anxiety prior to January 19, 2000 is not warranted and denied the claim. The veteran's current anxiety disability is currently rated at 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, as well as scheduling examinations to assess the veteran's current mental health status and skin condition.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted. The claims for residuals of a spine injury and a disability manifested by muscle spasm and swelling of the hips, legs, and toes are denied.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU due to incomplete development of evidence, including a lack of notification regarding what type of evidence would be necessary to substantiate his claim. The veteran was not provided with information about the VCAA or asked to provide any relevant evidence in his possession.

The Board has granted a higher initial rating for the veteran's anxiety disorder. The appeals seeking service connection for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and chronic cervicitis have been withdrawn by the appellant.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examination reports and treatment records. The issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for generalized anxiety disorder and entitlement to a compensable disability rating for tinea pedis will be reconsidered based on the revised skin disease regulations.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim of service connection for an anxiety disorder and determined that it is as likely as not that the veteran experienced this condition during his military service. The heart valve disorder and liver disorder claims are remanded due to a lack of service medical records.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for tinnitus and hypertension, as well as his application to collaterally attack the final December 1998 rating decision that continued a 10 percent evaluation for seborrheic dermatitis. The issues of entitlement to increased compensation for maxillary sinusitis and anxiety disorder are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The veteran's initial increased disability ratings for her service-connected cervical strain with right shoulder involvement and chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease secondary to trauma have been denied.,Her PTSD has also been denied an increased rating.

The veteran's anxiety neurosis has rendered him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment, warranting a 100% rating. The heart disability is found to be proximately due to the service-connected anxiety neurosis.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for anxiety disorder and duodenal ulcer disease, as well as his TDIU claim, were denied. The service-connected conditions are evaluated based on their direct impact without any presumption or secondary linkage.

The veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and other issues were denied. Additional development is needed to address the claims.