Anxiety decisions — 2025

The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy based on impairment of the sciatic nerve, and an initial 20 percent rating for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy based on impairment of the femoral nerve, for the period prior to January 24, 2023. The Board denied a rating greater than 20 percent for these conditions from that date. Additionally, the Board granted an initial 70 percent rating for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, but denied a rating greater than 70 percent.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression due to an insufficient medical opinion from a previous VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as adjustment disorder, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder, finding the evidence to be evenly balanced regarding onset during active duty.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for persistent depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder to obtain a medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Board denied an increased rating for the left ear scar and granted a separate 10 percent rating for pain, while denying service connection for several conditions including left hamstring strain.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including depression and anxiety, to correct a duty to assist error by scheduling a VA examination.

The appeal seeking service connection for various conditions was dismissed due to a procedural defect in the docketing of the appeal.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder, agoraphobia, and generalized anxiety disorder, based on the Veteran's lay report of a stressful event while onboard the submarine.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including back, knee, foot, and ankle conditions, as well as TBI, neurological disorder, sleep apnea, respiratory complaints, asthma, GERD, anxiety, PTSD, and other related conditions. The Board also granted an initial 10 percent rating for left hip strain with painful limited extension and denied a compensable rating for the same condition.

The Board remands the service connection issue for an acquired psychiatric disorder and the TDIU claim due to a need for additional development, specifically an addendum opinion on secondary aggravation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a compensable disability rating for dyshidrotic eczema.

The Board remands the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder to correct duty to assist errors, specifically regarding a secondary opinion on causation and aggravation.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher initial rating for anxiety disorder.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent prior to March 5, 2022, for the service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder as the Veteran's symptoms did not more closely approximate occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease and denied an increased rating for adjustment disorder with anxiety, while granting an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for adjustment disorder with anxiety.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, and unspecified anxiety with panic symptoms and depressive distress, based on the Veteran's in-service stressors.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, persistent depressive disorder and anxiety, as there was no diagnosis of PTSD that meets the DSM-5 criteria and no causal linkage between the in-service event and the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions.

The Board denied an effective date earlier than May 23, 2023, for the grant of service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood.

The Board denied service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and dismissed the appeal of entitlement to service connection for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected psychiatric disability, service connection for persistent depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), and service connection for hypertension. The claim for a compensable rating for migraine headaches was remanded.