Anxiety decisions — 2026

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood has been rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the General Formula for Mental Disorders. The Board found that his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shin pain, anxiety, and obstructive sleep apnea as there is no evidence to support that these conditions had their onset during his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including whether it is related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of adequate examination. The issues include service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression) and a right knee disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's appeals for service connection for anxiety, anger management (diagnosed as major depressive disorder), fatty liver, traumatic brain injury, and bilateral hand dupuytren's contracture due to untimely filing of appeal requests.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of major depressive disorder was denied in July 2019. He filed a new intent to file on May 9, 2024, and the VA granted service connection with an effective date of May 9, 2024. The Board found that no earlier effective date is warranted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder has been rated at 30 percent since May 18, 2022. The rating is denied as the disability does not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression and anxiety disorder, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to consider all relevant evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to military service, as there was no evidence of auditory damage during service. The left knee disability is also not related to military service.,The Veteran's left hip disability, lumbar disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, and cesarean section scar were not related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back pain, right knee pain, sleep apnea, anxiety, depression, blurry vision, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), left elbow condition, right elbow condition, left shoulder rotator cuff, and right shoulder rotator cuff have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, the Board finds that there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety, depression, blurry vision, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), left elbow condition, right elbow condition, left shoulder rotator cuff, and right shoulder rotator cuff have been denied as there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his service. The VA must obtain and consider any available VA treatment records from the 1980s, and provide an addendum opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective June 8, 2023, due to his service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder.,The Veteran is also entitled to SMC based on housebound from June 8, 2023, as he has a single service-connected disability rated at 100% and additional disabilities independently ratable above 60%.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but denied service connection for epilepsy and a low back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, characterized as generalized anxiety disorder with unspecified depressive disorder, is granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent. However, the evidence does not support a finding of total occupational and social impairment at any point during the appellate period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a bilateral hearing loss disability are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The Board will consider all theories of entitlement, including noise exposure during service, harassment from supervisors, and the relationship between tinnitus and mental health conditions.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 30 percent, the lowest available rating. The Board found that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for DEA benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 was granted effective April 17, 2024, based on his multiple service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date is April 17, 2024, which the Veteran has been granted and believes to be the correct date.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, including the failure to provide a VA examination and insufficient efforts to verify reported stressors. The matter will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for right fifth finger tendinosis is denied.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as depression, anxiety, and insomnia) are remanded.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability is remanded.,The Veteran's claim of increased rating for headache disability is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with insomnia and anxiety, finding that there was no current diagnosis of a nonacute insomnia disability linked to his service.