The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder resulted in occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks prior to June 5, 2015. After that date, the disability was not shown to be productive of a disability picture that more nearly approximated total occupational and social impairment.,Prior to June 20, 2019, the Veteran's back disability did not meet the criteria for a higher than 40 percent rating based on forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees; or, combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine not greater than 120 degrees. From June 20, 2019 onwards, the disability was shown to have been functionally limited to 30 degrees or less.,Prior to March 21, 2016, the Veteran's neck disability was manifested by complaints of pain and flexion of the cervical spine at 40 degrees with a combined range of motion greater than 170 degrees. Effective March 21, 2016, the disability is shown to have been functionally limited to 15 degrees of flexion.,The Veteran's left knee disability was manifested by complaints of pain and forward flexion ending at 120 degrees with no recurrent subluxation or lateral instability. The right knee disability was also manifested by complaints of pain and forward flexion ending at 120 degrees with no recurrent subluxation or lateral instability.,The Veteran's digestive system disability included symptoms such as persistently recurrent epigastric distress, nausea, pyrosis (heartburn), reflux, and regurgitation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s generalized anxiety disorder did not meet the criteria for a higher than 30 percent or 70 percent rating based on the severity of his symptoms and their impact on occupational and social functioning.
- Claimed conditions
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19183793
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,319 · Granted: 25% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19183793.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is related to his active-duty service and has granted service connection for this condition.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder with Major Depressive Disorder is rated at 50 percent, effective December 14, 2021. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected conditions.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, panic disorder, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and ADHD, finding that these conditions had onset during his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for various psychiatric disabilities, arrhythmia, cardiac amyloidosis, and CAD/arteriosclerotic heart disease are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.