Anxiety decisions — 2026

The appeal of right ear hearing loss and the acquired psychiatric disorder claims are dismissed. The TBI claim is denied with an initial rating of 40 percent, post-traumatic headaches and right eye diplopia claims are also denied.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, effective July 30, 2021.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, as well as flat feet. The Veteran's lay statements and buddy statement were not considered in the previous VA examination, and a new one is needed to address these issues.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and depression.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is granted as service connected. The Board found the evidence at least in approximate balance regarding whether his conditions were caused by military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and an acquired psychiatric disability claimed as sleep disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, is found to be at least as likely as not related to service. The appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and individual unemployability is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD, with generalized anxiety disorder and other specified trauma and related disorder are found to be related to his in-service stressors. The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is currently rated at a 10 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD, including substance abuse and depression, was denied as the effective date of June 6, 2023, is considered the earliest possible effective date given his intent to file on that day.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and a duty to assist error, requiring further evaluation of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions provided in his VA examinations. The claims include tension headaches, a psychiatric disability (diagnosed as generalized anxiety disorder), a cervical spine disorder, hand tremors, a lumbosacral spine disorder, a gastrointestinal disorder, and residuals of a hydrocele.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an addendum opinion regarding his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, anxiety, and mood disorder) and a left shoulder condition due to lack of current diagnoses conforming with DSM-5 criteria.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, unspecified with panic attacks, is now rated at 70 percent effective April 15, 2023.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as other unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and major depressive disorder (MDD), on a direct basis. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible accounts of in-service symptoms and diagnoses provided by a certified clinical military counselor.

The Veteran's application for higher ratings for adjustment disorder with anxiety and bilateral pes planus with metatarsalgia was denied. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's depression has been granted a 100 percent rating, effective May 22, 2023. The evidence shows total occupational and social impairment.

The appeal for an earlier effective date of November 10, 2005, for the grant of service connection for PTSD is dismissed. The appeal for SMC benefits based on housebound or need of aid and attendance is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, chronic), and hypothyroidism. The initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are supported by evidence of in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptomatology.,Service connection is denied for fibromyalgia due to insufficient medical evidence linking the condition to service.