Anxiety Board decisions

The VA determined that the veteran's anxiety reaction disorder warrants a 50 percent disability rating from May 15, 1996.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected anxiety reaction is being remanded due to the need for a new VA psychiatric examination.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected anxiety reaction is being remanded due to the lack of recent VA outpatient treatment records and the need for a new medical examination.

The veteran's anxiety neurosis is rated at 70 percent, effective from August 23, 1991. The right knee disability remains rated at 20 percent until June 3, 1996 and then at 30 percent thereafter.

The veteran's death was not due to his own willful misconduct, but he did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 as he was not rated as totally disabled for a period of at least ten years immediately preceding his death.

The VA has granted an increased disability evaluation of 50 percent for the veteran's service-connected anxiety reaction, effective October 1995. The current rating reflects significant impairment in social and industrial functioning due to the veteran's anxiety disorder.

The veteran's service-connected psychoneurosis, anxiety, with somatic complaints and diarrhea is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's service-connected subtotal gastrectomy with gastritis and anxiety manifestations is not considered disabling enough to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the criteria for mental disorders. The condition causes significant occupational and social impairment.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension benefits on account of being housebound is denied because he does not have a single disability rated or ratable at 100 percent.

The Board finds that the veteran's anxiety and depression developed during his active service, resolving in favor of granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has found new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claims for service connection for organic heart disease and anxiety. The veteran's current medical conditions are linked to issues in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder is denied as there is no well-grounded evidence to support it.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected anxiety reaction does not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 10 percent, as it only causes mild social and industrial impairment.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for the veteran's anxiety reaction with depression, effective from November 7, 1996. The claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus is not well grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of anxiety reaction with PTSD and service connection for heart disease with hypertension and gastrointestinal ulcers secondary to PTSD, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating or service connection under the applicable criteria.

The Board found the veteran's claim for service connection for an anxiety disorder well-grounded and granted it.

The Board denied the veteran's application for Service Disabled Veterans Insurance (RH) under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1922(a) because it was not received within one year of his service connection determination in February 1962.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is manifested by depression, anxiety, increased startle response, panic attacks, irritability, hypervigilance, memory loss, and feeling detached and estranged from others. All contacts, except the most intimate, are so adversely affected as to result in virtual isolation in the community.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss or anxiety reaction to his active service. The claim for increased evaluation of anxiety reaction was denied as the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.