Anxiety decisions — 2026

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and lumbosacral spine disability are granted as service connected. The Board found the evidence to be in equipoise regarding whether these conditions had their onset during service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for GAD and alcohol and substance use disorder are granted. The claim for ADHD is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

Your appeals to sever service connection for various conditions and ratings have been dismissed due to procedural issues. You had a pending supplemental claim that included the same issues, which is not allowed under the Appeals Modernization Act.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar and thoracic spine contributed to his death due to an accidental overdose. The decision is in favor of the Appellant.

The appeal regarding the direct payment of attorney fees from past due benefits awarded in a May 2025 rating decision granting entitlement to a 100 percent rating for the Veteran's anxiety disability is dismissed as the appellant withdrew his appeal.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, major depression, and anxiety. The readjudication is based on new evidence submitted since the previous denial in August 2017.

An effective date of July 10, 2018 is granted for the award of an increased 50 percent rating for service-connected migraine headaches.,Restoration of a 70 percent disability rating for the service-connected psychiatric disability (other specified anxiety disorder with depression and alcohol use disorder) is granted, effective May 26, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder (MDD with GAD) are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The effective date for MDD with GAD is currently set at March 21, 2024, but the Board finds that an earlier effective date may be warranted if service connection can be established on a different basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and treatment records consideration, requiring further examinations and opinions to determine service connection for psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep disorder, higher initial rating for bilateral hearing loss, and an initial rating of 10 percent for left little finger posttraumatic deformity to the distal phalanx (previously rated as left finger (pinky) scar/smashed) have all been denied. The Veteran's sleep impairment is considered part of his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder, finding that his symptoms meet the criteria for reduced reliability and productivity. The appeal is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, migraine headaches, and depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, motivation and mood disturbances, and chronic sleep impairment/disturbance.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence, particularly regarding a VA examination for mental disorders. The Veteran's claims for service connection are not fully addressed.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete evidence regarding the diagnosis of any acquired psychiatric disorder, including claimed PTSD, and its possible relationship to the claimed in-service stressor. Additional development is necessary to satisfy specific statutory requirements for service connection.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the Veteran filed a concurrent request for higher-level review and a VA Form 10182, which is not allowed under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all listed conditions was dismissed due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for migraine headaches was denied as there were no prostrating attacks. The claim for TDIU was also denied due to the Veteran's ability to maintain a substantially gainful occupation despite his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder with intermittent major depressive episode and alcohol use disorder is productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition. The Veteran is encouraged to submit any private medical records related to his treatment outside of VA.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of general anxiety disorder was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.