Anxiety decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings due to incomplete evidence and an error in satisfying a regulatory or statutory duty.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety, depression, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss are denied. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches and generalized anxiety disorder have rendered her unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, as they significantly impair her ability to work due to their functional limitations.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder, to include anxiety and depression, should be remanded due to a failure to provide a VA examination prior to making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for PTSD and effective dates for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than 70 percent for PTSD, and denied earlier effective dates for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and for clarification on whether in-service actions were willful misconduct, which could affect service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as moot because he is already receiving a 100% rating for his service-connected anxiety disorder, which satisfies the requirement for SMC based on aid and attendance. The Veteran's need for regular aid and assistance from his wife to perform daily activities has been established.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring an updated VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent since August 8, 2014, due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not rated higher than noncompensable (0 percent).,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,Service connection for lumbar spine pain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee pain, and right knee pain have all been granted.,Service connection for an unspecified anxiety disorder has been granted.,The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine condition is the primary cause of his bilateral knee and shoulder pain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD, anxiety, and depression), hypertension, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathies of the upper and lower extremities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during or were otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood results in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder is granted an initial 100 percent rating, resolving the claim in full.

The Board has determined that there were errors in the initial decision regarding service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, GAD, and PTSD. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to obtain relevant medical records from her military service.

Entitlement to a rating of 50 percent, but not higher, for chronic headache disorder is granted from April 22, 2023.,Entitlement to a rating of 10 percent, but no higher, for hemorrhoids is granted from April 22, 2024.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus is granted.,Service connection for coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction status post coronary artery bypass graft with stent is granted.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood) is granted as secondary to tinnitus.,Service connection for right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy is granted.,Service connection for left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, general anxiety disorder, adjustment disorder with anxious distress, insomnia, major depressive disorder, and nightmare disorder; OSA; and tinnitus. The Veteran's appealed issues regarding erectile dysfunction and high blood pressure have been remanded.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claim for service connection for adjustment disorder with anxiety, but has also remanded it due to errors in duty-to-assist and need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's mental health disability, specifically PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, resulted in total occupational and social impairment from October 21, 2019. The Board granted a total disability rating for this condition.

The Veteran's increased rating for Generalized Anxiety Disorder from August 22, 2024 is granted. For the entire appeal period, an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for Generalized Anxiety Disorder is denied. The Veteran's vitiligo remains rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to issues with scheduling VA examinations for an incarcerated Veteran. The claims will be reconsidered after these examinations are completed.