Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's ischemic heart disease, which was present during his lifetime and linked to service, is the cause of death. The Board found sufficient evidence to grant service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board granted the veteran a total rating for compensation purposes by reason of individual unemployability, effective from March 27, 1998.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected anxiety disorder, finding that the symptoms are well controlled by medication and do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar disorder and anxiety disorder, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to her service or any incident therein. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence to establish a preexisting knee disorder in service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The veteran's claims are now considered de novo.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a seizure disorder, finding new and material evidence. However, it is not granted as the seizure disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss in the right ear, tinnitus, PTSD, anxiety disorder, and a chronic disorder characterized by multiple joint pain, arthralgia, left leg limp, and left leg cramps secondary to undiagnosed illness. The appeals were not about service connection at all.

The Board's May 10, 1982 decision affirming the termination of a total rating based on individual unemployability is found to be clearly and unmistakably erroneous due to failure to apply proper procedural safeguards.

The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety reaction warrants a 70 percent disability rating, effective from when his claim was filed in May 1995.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include panic disorder, as there is no medical evidence establishing a causal relationship between his in-service symptoms and his current diagnosis of a panic disorder.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and major depression. The appeals regarding a sleep disorder, anxiety disorder, and sterility were also considered.

The Board determined that the August 1983 rating decision did not contain clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in denying more than a 50 percent rating for psychiatric manifestations of disability, but found CUE in assigning only one 70 percent rating followed by a 50 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for a psychosis, increased rating for anxiety reaction, and total disability based on individual unemployability. The RO must ensure compliance with all notification and development requirements under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The veteran is granted a 100 percent rating for his service-connected psychoneurosis, anxiety type. His claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability is dismissed as he already has a schedular 100 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for stuttering, an increased rating for his anxiety reaction with maturation of paranoid schizophrenia, and a compensable rating for reflux esophagitis. The veteran's stuttering was found to be not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected psychiatric disability. His anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent disabling. His reflux esophagitis is rated at zero percent.

The veteran's unauthorized medical treatment for an acute colon obstruction was not covered because it did not relate to a service-connected condition.

The appellant is seeking service connection for the cause of her husband's death and DIC benefits. The RO denied these claims on the basis that they were not well grounded, but this decision must be remanded due to changes in the law.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of anxiety disorder, service connection for skin lesions and skin cancer, and special monthly pension benefits due to lack of evidence supporting his claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's generalized anxiety disorder warrants a 50 percent evaluation, reflecting significant impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The Board found that the appellant did not serve in combat and could not establish service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, dysthymic disorder or anxiety disorder. The VA examinations and medical records do not support a finding of these conditions.