The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not combine to a 70 percent evaluation, nor did they meet any of the criteria that would permit VA to view them as the same disability listed in Section 4.16(a). The Board finds that the Veteran was not so disabled by reason of his service-connected disabilities that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful course of employment.
The deciding factor: The sum total of the evidence is that the Veteran himself denied impairments from residual symptoms of his gall bladder surgery and scar, and that his anxiety disorder, which caused him significant impairment in earlier eras, was a less relevant factor in his life after the onset of his cerebral vascular accidents in 2008.
- Claimed conditions
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Residuals of Cholecystectomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 24, 2017
- Citation
- 1753911
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1753911.
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
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
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