The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected chronic anxiety and depressive psychoneurosis did not cause his death from coronary artery disease, as there is no scientific proof linking anxiety disorder to coronary artery disease. The examiner found it speculative to determine if the veteran's anxiety aggravated his smoking habit.
The deciding factor: There is no scientifically proven causal relationship between generalized anxiety disorder and coronary artery disease.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic Anxiety and Depressive Psychoneurosis, Coronary Artery Disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 24, 2005
- Citation
- 0505257
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0505257.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
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- Whole decision: Denied
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- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to pre-decisional error and insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's heart condition, hypertension, and hearing loss/tinnitus.
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