Anxiety decisions — 2026

The Board has determined that the Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder are related to his service, granting the claim for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of the claimed disabilities to active service.

The Veteran's insomnia and depressive disorder with anxiety symptoms are granted as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus and hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including erectile dysfunction and an acquired psychiatric disorder, have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of erectile dysfunction or any other claimed condition.

The Board has granted service connection for major/unspecified depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, finding that these conditions are due to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, are related to his service, specifically hazing during active duty. Therefore, service connection is granted.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his non-PTSD acquired psychiatric disorder was not incurred in or related to active service.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified anxiety disorder and depressive disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder with anxious distress is rated under the same criteria as her generalized anxiety disorder because their symptoms are duplicative and overlap, violating pyramiding rules. Therefore, a separate rating for depression cannot be granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, are found to have been incurred in service due to his reported in-service trauma.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including acquired psychiatric disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, headaches, right shoulder disability, residuals of bronchitis, kidney pain, and testicular pain. The Veteran's claims were not supported by current medical evidence or a link to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities, including left shoulder strain, migraines, right shoulder strain, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), back pain, and lip scar.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and a TDIU were denied because he failed to report for a VA examination scheduled in October 2023 without providing good cause.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and will obtain a VA opinion to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to include anxiety, as the evidence does not support a separate diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance claims were granted effective August 17, 2023. The Housebound status claim was also granted with an effective date of July 6, 2022.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, PTSD, and a lumbar spine disability. The AOJ is required to obtain all relevant VA medical records, including SSA records, and provide the Veteran with necessary examinations to assess his conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, is granted as secondary to his service-connected right testicular hydroceles with penis shrinkage and insomnia.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions as the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, allergic rhinitis (sinusitis), and an acquired psychiatric disability (major depressive disorder with anxiety). The evidence did not show the presence of these conditions during the pendency of the claim.,The Veteran's reports of symptoms were insufficient to meet the first element of service connection as he had no complaints or treatment for sleep, sinus, or psychiatric disabilities prior to his September 2025 statement.