Anxiety Board decisions

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for further examination and medical evidence.

The case is being remanded to the RO for additional development due to a request for a videoconference hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and hair loss, both presumed to be due to undiagnosed illness in the Persian Gulf War. The weight gain claim is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Board denied service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, chronic alopecia, eating disorder, diverticulosis (claimed as diarrhea and constipation), and loss of bladder control. The veteran's current conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by his active service.

The VA has granted a 70 percent disability rating for generalized anxiety disorder, effective from April 2002. However, the veteran's condition does not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for scars, traumatic, left thigh and right leg. The claim of service connection for atypical anxiety disorder with depression was reopened based on new evidence, but the claim remains denied as there is no presumption or direct link to service. Service connection for seizure disorder was also granted.

The VA has determined that the veteran's anxiety reaction does not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 50% evaluation under the applicable diagnostic code.

The VA determined that the veteran's anxiety disorder with PTSD symptoms is currently manifested by social impairment due to moderate symptoms, and does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for a more contemporaneous VA examination to determine the severity of his service-connected residuals of spinal meningitis with conversion features, and for readjudication of his claim.

The Board granted service connection for depression with anxiety and TDIU, effective from the date of receipt of the claim in July 1999. The veteran's claims were reopened based on new evidence received after his original claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and any additional evidence from the veteran's mother.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD with Panic/Anxiety Disorder warrants a 50 percent rating, effective from the date of service connection.

The veteran's service-connected cardiomyopathy with incomplete right bundle branch block and mixed headaches have not been found to warrant higher initial evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The decision also denied service connection for alcohol dependence and tobacco use disorder as a matter of law.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 30 percent for generalized anxiety disorder and a 10 percent evaluation for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board found the evidence in equipoise as to whether the veteran engaged in combat with the enemy during his active service, and thus reopened the claim based on new and material evidence. However, there is no causal link between any current psychiatric disorder and service, including any claimed PTSD or major depression.

The Board has determined that the veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is not related to his service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 100 percent, indicating total occupational impairment. The claims for service connection for malnutrition, dysentery, and helminthiasis have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.

The Board is remanding the case to consider whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for psychiatric disability, specifically generalized anxiety disorder. The veteran's application was received after August 29, 2001, so the amended definition of new and material evidence applies.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 7, 1983, for a 100% rating for schizophrenia is denied.