BVA decisions by condition
Generalized anxiety disorder: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2018 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a generalized anxiety disorder issue in 1,381 decisions. It granted the generalized anxiety disorder issue in 37.8% of them, above the 19.9% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 29.1%, and remanded it in 32.7%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 56.5% were granted.
Decisions
1,381
2018–2026
Granted
37.8%
All conditions: 19.9%
Granted on the merits
56.5%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
32.7%
Denied: 29.1%
Generalized anxiety disorder outcomes by year
| Year | Decisions | Granted | Denied | Remanded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 182 | 25.3% | 26.9% | 45.1% |
| 2019 | 160 | 35.0% | 20.6% | 45.0% |
| 2020 | 115 | 33.9% | 36.5% | 29.6% |
| 2021 | 103 | 33.0% | 35.9% | 35.9% |
| 2022 | 111 | 50.5% | 24.3% | 22.5% |
| 2023 | 113 | 38.1% | 27.4% | 37.2% |
| 2024 | 189 | 47.6% | 24.3% | 27.0% |
| 2025 | 293 | 36.5% | 33.1% | 29.0% |
| 2026 | 115 | 44.3% | 34.8% | 20.9% |
Evidence in granted and denied generalized anxiety disorder decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the generalized anxiety disorder issue on the merits when the decision mentioned it, compared with decisions that did not. These are associations, not causes, and evidence is recorded per decision, not per issue.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive nexus opinion | 330 | 86.5% | 44.4% | +42.1 pts |
| Buddy statement | 50 | 87.9% | 55.3% | +32.5 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 225 | 79.2% | 50.1% | +29.1 pts |
| Claimed as secondary | 132 | 76.1% | 54.9% | +21.2 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 599 | 67.5% | 47.4% | +20.0 pts |
| Combat service | 100 | 65.8% | 55.6% | +10.2 pts |
| Treating physician opinion | 119 | 64.4% | 55.5% | +8.8 pts |
| Lay statement | 1,163 | 56.4% | 57.8% | −1.4 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 70.1% of the decisions that granted generalized anxiety disorder.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 36.6% of grants and 13.9% of denials.
Negative evidence in the record
An unfavorable exam or a negative nexus opinion often sits in the same record as favorable evidence, and the Board weighs them against each other. So these rows show how often generalized anxiety disorder was still granted when the record contained the negative item, not that the item helped.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negative nexus opinion | 557 | 56.3% | 56.7% | −0.4 pts |
| Unfavorable VA exam | 1,026 | 53.6% | 70.1% | −16.6 pts |
Why the Board granted or denied generalized anxiety disorder
Most common reasons in grants
- Current diagnosis established43
- Caused by the service-connected disability14
- Symptoms approximated criteria for 70% rating11
- Holistic analysis of symptoms considered10
- Total occupational and social impairment found7
- Occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas6
- Symptoms approximated total occupational and social impairment5
- Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity5
Most common reasons in denials
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim22
- No in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis15
- Service records negative or silent13
- No current diagnosis12
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service11
- Symptoms did not meet criteria for 70% rating10
- Symptoms do not meet criteria for 70% rating7
- Symptoms more closely approximated 50% rating criteria6
Numbers are decisions that gave the reason. Reasons are short phrases extracted by AI from each decision; common wordings of the same reason are grouped. Benefit of the doubt is reported above.
Recent generalized anxiety disorder decisions
Granted
Suicidal ideation and difficulty adapting to stress noted in private evaluation; Symptoms approximated criteria for 70% rating; Benefit of the doubt applied for 70% rating
Evidence in approximate balance; Benefit of the doubt resolved in veteran's favor; VA examiner opinion probative
Evidence approximately balanced; Benefit of the doubt applied; Related to in-service motor vehicle accident
Denied
Symptoms do not more closely approximate criteria for 70% rating.; Evidence does not show inability to establish and maintain effective relationships causing deficiencies in most areas.; Veteran's symptoms do not reflect total occupational or social impairment.
March 2013 rating decision was final; no timely appeal or new and material evidence within one year.; Failure in VA's duty to assist does not constitute CUE.; Original 10 percent rating for generalized anxiety disorder was not clearly erroneous.
Symptoms consistent with 30 percent rating criteria for May 2008-Dec 2022; Evidence did not support higher ratings for that period; Symptoms did not meet criteria for 70 percent or 100 percent ratings
Rules that apply to generalized anxiety disorder claims
- 38 CFR 3.303
Principles of service connection
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your generalized anxiety disorder case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.
How these numbers are calculated
- Rates count decisions in which the Board decided a generalized anxiety disorder issue, by the outcome of that issue. Other issues in the same decision can have different outcomes.
- “Granted on the merits” leaves out remands and dismissals. “All conditions” is the grant share across every condition issue in the data.
- The data comes from CaseScribe's AI extraction of public BVA decisions (2018–2026) and can contain errors. It is updated automatically as new decisions are added.