Anxiety decisions — 2026

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under Section 1151 for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service or VA treatment.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

The appeal regarding the grants of service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is dismissed as moot. Service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress is granted a disability rating of 70 percent, effective from May 3, 2024.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. However, the Veteran does not have a separate and distinct insomnia/sleep disorder diagnosis.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes planus, hypertension, maxillary sinusitis, tension headaches, and PTSD with adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood are all granted. The left ankle condition is remanded for further review.

The Board has found the May 2020 rating decision that addressed entitlement to service connection for PTSD/depression, ichthyosis, hearing loss, left and right ankle conditions, and a right foot condition to be the one on appeal. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as there is no evidence of chronic sensorineural hearing loss within the presumptive period or continuity of symptomatology. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim requires an examination for service connection due to incomplete medical history provided by the VA examiner. The ichthyosis claim requires a corrected opinion based on accurate STRs showing groin rash treatment in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraines, right ear hearing loss, and depression and anxiety with intermittent explosive disorder (depression and anxiety) have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for migraines or establish current disability for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right knee condition are granted service connection, but the acquired psychiatric disorder claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for insomnia disorder, anxiety disorder, and follicular lymphoma have been readjudicated due to the submission of new and relevant evidence.,However, the claims for service connection for an anxiety disorder (secondary to tinnitus), tension headaches (secondary to kidney neoplasm), and hiatal hernia (secondary to benign neoplasm) are being remanded as there is insufficient medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety, depression, insomnia, and COPD due to a lack of VA examinations addressing these conditions. The claim is being returned to provide such evaluations.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, along with other service-connected disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. Effective January 28, 2020, the Veteran is granted a TDIU based on these conditions. Additionally, effective January 28, 2020, he is also granted SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal seeking service connection for PTSD has been withdrawn. The reduction in rating from 30 percent to 10 percent for insomnia disorder was improper, and the 30 percent rating is restored.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension are all granted as service connected. The acquired psychiatric disorder is due to an in-service assault, the erectile dysfunction is secondary to this condition, and the hypertension is not related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and insomnia, is granted as service connected. The stressors leading to these conditions have been corroborated with credible evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating greater than 70 percent prior to August 18, 2025, for service-connected PTSD was withdrawn by the Veteran before a decision could be made.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with associated conditions is rated at a 70 percent disability level, effective from the date of the May 2025 rating decision.

The Veteran's reduction from a 100% to a 70% rating for other specified trauma and stressor disorder with unspecified substance related disorder in partial remission (previously diagnosed as posttraumatic stress disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and unspecified personality disorder) is restored.,The Veteran's reduction from a 40% to a 10% rating for lumbosacral strain is restored.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, and an increased disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine have been granted. The Veteran meets the current disability requirement and has met the in-service injury requirement with respect to her migraine headaches and major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder. The Board found that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to service, thus granting service connection for them.