Anxiety decisions — 2026

The Veteran's GERD, major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, and bilateral pes planus are all granted as service connected due to aggravation of preexisting conditions.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically bipolar disorder II and generalized anxiety disorder, is rated at 100 percent effective November 17, 2019. The decision grants the increased rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, flat feet, unspecified anxiety disorder, and bottom lip scar.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for body dysmorphia, noncombat-related psychosis, adjustment disorder, depression, and GAD have been denied. The claim for an increased rating for OSTSRD has also been denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum rating available. Service connection has been granted for left ankle strain, right ankle strain, back disability, neck strain, and left shoulder disability.

An effective date prior to December 1, 2021, for the grant of service connection for adjustment disorder with anxiety is denied.,An effective date prior to December 1, 2021, for the grant of service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the back other than intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) is denied.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for DDD of the back other than IVDS prior to May 10, 2023, is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of posttraumatic stress disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and persistent depressive disorder (dysthymic disorder) to include generalized anxiety disorder due to an impermissible concurrent election.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between GERD and service-connected conditions, as well as obesity. The Veteran's GERD is being reviewed for potential connection to toxic exposure from military service under the PACT Act. Obesity is also being evaluated in relation to service-connected conditions.

The Board has found that new and relevant evidence has been received for the Veteran's claims of a higher rating for PTSD and an earlier effective date for TDIU. The AOJ is required to readjudicate these claims on their merits.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, finding that it is etiologically related to his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his in-service experiences.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including other specified and stressor related disorder, bipolar disorder, and generalized anxiety, are found to be related to her military service.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for his service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood and alcohol use disorder was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent from July 14, 2024 to March 14, 2025 or a rating in excess of 70 percent from March 14, 2025.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder, lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy contributed to his death from congestive heart failure. The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied as the Veteran did not meet the criteria of having a combined rating of at least one year immediately preceding death.

The Veteran's mental health disability, specifically Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood, is now rated at 70 percent from January 20, 2023. This decision grants the Veteran a higher initial rating for his condition.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection are being remanded due to scheduling conflicts preventing VA examinations, and the claim for a higher rating based on multiple noncompensable disabilities is inextricably intertwined with other pending claims.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on four different conditions (PTSD, anxiety, COPD, and depression) have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of February 23, 2021, for his entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU). The Board found that there was no evidence within the one-year period prior to the March 2023 claim that it was factually ascertainable that the Veteran's service-connected disability alone precluded him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment.