The Board has granted service connection for heart disease on a secondary basis, as it is at least as likely as not related to the veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder. The rating for post-operative residuals of a laceration to the left median nerve remains at 20 percent. A compensable rating (10%) was granted for anxiety reaction from August 30, 2002, to February 23, 2005. However, the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10% for anxiety reaction is denied.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the medical evidence is in equipoise as to whether the veteran's heart disease is causally related to his service-connected anxiety disorder and granted service connection on a secondary basis. The compensable rating was granted based on the veteran's symptoms, which are consistent with a diagnosis of mild disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Heart Disease, Anxiety Disorder, Residuals of a Laceration to the Left Median Nerve
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- September 30, 2005
- Citation
- 0526759
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 0526759.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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The Veteran's initial ratings for anxiety disorder and TBI were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Denied
The Board denied eligibility to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a March 2024 rating decision because the March 2024 rating decision was an initial decision granting service connection for anxiety disorder.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and service connection for IBS as secondary to anxiety disorder is granted. Service connection for non-Hodgkin lymphoma is denied due to lack of presumptive basis. Service connection for CHF with bradycardia and pacemaker as secondary to hypertension is granted.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected major depression and anxiety disorder are considered part of his service-connected peripheral neuropathy, which already qualifies him for SMC(l). Therefore, he is not eligible for a higher rate of SMC.
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