Anxiety decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied due to the lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors occurred. The Board found no evidence corroborating the Veteran's assertion that he experienced fear of hostile military or terrorist activity.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include anxiety, is remanded as there are deficiencies in the VA examination report and additional development is needed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to recognize his December 17, 2008 correspondence as a timely and valid Notice of Disagreement (NOD) with the November 2008 rating decision. The underlying compensation claims will be addressed in a separate Board decision under the Legacy appeal system.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Right Knee Osteoarthritis with Symptomatic Removal of Semilunar Cartilage were denied as it is not factually ascertainable that the disabilities met the criteria for higher ratings within one year prior to the date of claim.

The Veteran's appeal to receive a higher initial disability rating for his service-connected depressive disorder with anxiety (claimed as bipolar disorder) is dismissed because the Notice of Disagreement did not relate to any adjudicative determination by the AOJ.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, unspecified anxiety disorder, began during active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions were granted increased ratings, and attorney fees are awarded for past-due benefits resulting from these decisions.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and alcohol use disorder are each rated at the highest available level of disability due to their severity. The decision is mixed as some conditions received higher ratings than others.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for anxiety and depression due to a lack of an addendum addressing the Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The claims for headaches and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, which includes anxiety and PTSD. The decision is based on evidence that links these conditions to service.

The Board has granted effective dates of January 9, 2022 for the service connection of adjustment disorder with anxiety, bilateral pes planus, thoracic spondylosis with lumbar spine arthropathy, tinnitus, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a mental health condition, including anxiety and depression, is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability (chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood) is granted an initial rating of 50 percent, but no higher.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD with alcohol use disorder, as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for persistent adjustment disorder with features of mixed anxiety and depressed mood, finding that no claim was made prior to June 12, 2023.

The Veteran is found to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to her service-connected psychiatric disabilities, and TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU was denied as the AOJ did not consider it a supplemental claim, and the decisions were based on initial claims filed in February 2024.

The Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating is appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Board has granted service connection for an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood (psychiatric disability) and asthma with restrictive lung disease and chronic bronchitis (pulmonary disability), both of which are found to be caused by the service-connected tinnitus. The effective date is set at February 16, 2023.

The Veteran's PTSD and tinnitus are granted service connection, while anxiety is denied. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome do not meet the criteria for service connection.,Service connection for left elbow tendinitis is remanded due to lack of evidence.