Anxiety Board decisions

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected psychological factors (anxiety) affecting a physical condition is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling of a VA examination and obtaining all relevant medical records.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for generalized anxiety disorder with depression as secondary to service-connected disabilities of the knees and low back.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, pulmonary tuberculosis, pneumonia, anxiety disorder, stomach disorder, and foot injury residuals. The reasons were that there was no credible evidence of an in-service stressor or event leading to PTSD, and the other conditions did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The veteran was granted TDIU effective from August 24, 1993. The RO moved the effective date back to July 10, 2002.

The Board has remanded the case to consider whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including chronic anxiety, major depression, and dysthymia.

The veteran's multiple disabilities, including COPD rated at 100%, do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service medical records and scheduling a psychiatric examination. The veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with PTSD warrants a 70 percent rating, reflecting severe industrial and moderately severe social impairment.

The Board found no evidence of a psychiatric disorder during or within one year after service, and concluded that the veteran's current anxiety and depression did not begin in service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD based on credible supporting evidence of the veteran's in-service stressors. The claim for anxiety disorder is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD with depression and anxiety, effective December 3, 1997. The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date based on his original claim filed in September 13, 1982.

The Board found that the veteran does not have an innocently acquired psychiatric disability to include anxiety disorder or dysthymia, and thus denied service connection for these conditions. The claim for hypertension was also remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board found that the veteran's anxiety disorder did not cause or contribute to his death, and that myasthenia gravis, which was a service-connected condition, aggravated by his pre-existing anxiety disorder, caused his death. The VA medical opinions supported this conclusion.

The veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability (depression, anxiety, and hypochondriasis) does not render him unemployable due to his age and other nonservice-connected health issues.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chronic sinusitis, anxiety disorder (PTSD and anxiety), headaches due to an undiagnosed illness, skin disorders, disability of the hands and elbows, and bilateral knee disabilities. The appeals were based on presumed service connection for undiagnosed illnesses related to service in the Persian Gulf region.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, anxiety neurosis, and personality disorder due to new evidence submitted since the February 1999 RO decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining new medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claim for an increased rating for anxiety reaction is also being reviewed.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for anxiety neurosis, currently rated at 30 percent.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing.