The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder is found to be the primary cause of his current cardiac disability. The combined rating for all service-connected disabilities has been at least 70% since December 2007, meeting the criteria for a TDIU. Therefore, the claim for TDIU is granted.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's current cardiac disability was secondary to his service-connected anxiety disorder and found no other service-connected disabilities rendering him unemployable at present.
- Claimed conditions
- cardiac disability, anxiety disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- April 16, 2014
- Citation
- 1417144
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 1417144.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and increased rating for anxiety disorder have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the criteria for hypertension, and the Veteran's anxiety disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a cardiac disability, including arteriosclerotic heart disease and coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service or an in-service injury.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Board found the VA audiological examination inadequate for adjudicative purposes and remanded for an adequate VA audiological examination to determine if the Veteran has bilateral hearing loss. Service connection for PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression is also remanded as there are insufficient competent medical evidence on file.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, specifically anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, which is found to be due to military sexual trauma experienced during service. The decision also notes that the Veteran's reports of in-service personal assault are credible and supported by medical opinions.
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