Anxiety decisions — 2026

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and neuropathy in the upper extremities are related to his service-connected disabilities. The acquired psychiatric disorder is also found to be secondary to his service-connected conditions.,Affording the Veteran the benefit of doubt, his claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, neuropathy in the upper extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is dismissed as the Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of evidence showing hearing loss for VA purposes.,Affording the Veteran the benefit of doubt, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder) is granted.,The Veteran's right knee strain with limitation of flexion is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds no higher rating is warranted as there is no evidence showing more than limited flexion.,A separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability is granted.,Service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is denied, and a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence provided.,The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatic radulopathy and right lower extremity sciatic radulopathy are each rated at 10 percent.,A higher rating for service-connected left foot pes planus and plantar fasciitis is denied.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for generalized anxiety disorder with major depressive disorder, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction were denied. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for cervical spine disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and intention tremors.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran's reported stressors and schedule him for a psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, but denied service connection for anxiety disorder and right wrist injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a higher evaluation for migraine disability, and the effective date of service connection are all remanded due to new evidence received.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood results in occupational and social impairment, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has ordered remand for the issues of entitlement to an increased rating for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease, service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a headache disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran is not provided with proper notice regarding his right to a hearing under 38 C.F.R. §​3.103(b)(1) and (d)(1). Additionally, the VA back examination was inadequate as it did not address functional loss due to pain or ameliorative effects of medications.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is rated at 40 percent, but no higher. The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder remains at the current 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) were dismissed as the appeal was not properly filed due to an improper concurrent election of multiple review options.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is related to his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of proper notification and examination. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, rhinitis, sinusitis, anxiety, mood disorder, depression, or nightmares as there are no confirmed diagnoses at any point during her appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error and requires an additional examination to determine if the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The appellant has withdrawn his appeal concerning service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety with outbursts, lower back pain, and chronic headaches, right and left shoulder pain, and appropriate ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's right knee disability is not productive of limitation of motion to a degree that warrants an evaluation in excess of 10 percent. Service connection for left hip and right hip disabilities, depression, and anxiety are denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, is related to in-service stressor events. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions. However, the Veteran does not have a separately diagnosed sleep disorder.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, recurrent. The Board has dismissed these appeals.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches was denied. For the period from September 24, 2024, the Veteran received a 70% rating for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood. The claims for ratings greater than 50% for this condition were denied for periods between June 30, 2023 to September 23, 2024, and from October 9, 2021 to June 29, 2023.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, was found to have caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to August 10, 2022. The Board granted a rating of 50 percent for this period.

The Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder is related to service and granted.,Service connection for a TBI and migraines, as secondary to the claimed TBI, are denied.