Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has determined that the appellant is entitled to an effective date of June 26, 1997 for aid and attendance benefits based on her need for regular assistance due to her medical conditions.

The veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks and PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which meets the criteria for a higher rating.,The veteran's asthma is currently rated at 30 percent, which does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected anxiety reaction, currently rated at 50 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not show symptoms warranting a higher rating.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's claimed depression and anxiety to his service-connected carcinoma of the larynx. The veteran was also denied increased ratings for nicotine dependence, peripheral vascular disease in both legs, and individual unemployability due to peripheral vascular disease.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits, as well as her claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 due to lack of entitlement based on the evidence provided.

The VA assigned a 100% evaluation for service-connected anxiety disorder effective December 17, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder is productive of a level of social and industrial inadaptability that more nearly approximates a disability picture consistent with that of a demonstrable inability to perform substantially gainful employment, warranting a 100 percent rating.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected PTSD with dysthymic reaction and anxiety attacks has caused some industrial impairment and impairment in maintaining relationships, resulting in occupational and social impairment with an occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. The initial evaluation of 30 percent is proper.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to reconcile the conflicting medical evidence of record regarding the appellant's service-connected anxiety reaction and PTSD.

The veteran's hospitalization was deemed unauthorized and the VA found that a VA facility was available for his care. The Board denied reimbursement or payment due to lack of authorization and availability of VA facilities.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board had no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's generalized anxiety disorder warrants a 70 percent evaluation, reflecting total occupational and social impairment.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected psychoneurosis with anxiety and PTSD was denied by the RO. The case is now remanded to obtain additional medical records, address issues of tinnitus and total disability based on individual unemployability, and schedule a VA examination.

The veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with dysthymic disorder is currently rated at 50 percent disabling from December 17, 1998. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a personal assault during service and its impact on current psychiatric conditions. The veteran's claim for PTSD is reopened based on new evidence, but further development is needed to establish whether the claimed stressor occurred in service.

The veteran's PTSD was not productive of severe impairment in his ability to establish or maintain effective relationships, nor were there psychoneurotic symptoms due to PTSD resulting in severe impairment in his ability to obtain or retain employment. Bilateral frozen foot residuals and cold injury residuals were also evaluated.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected psychoneurosis, anxiety, currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety depressive reaction causes total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (chronic depressive disorder) and a back disorder, but denied service connection for the veteran's anxiety reaction and organic mood disorder with psychotic features. The right leg shell fragment wound residuals are currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder does not warrant an increased evaluation beyond the current 10 percent rating.