The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 19, 2020 for service connection of an unspecified anxiety disorder as it was not factually ascertainable that he had such a condition prior to this date.
The deciding factor: The earliest medical evidence of an acquired psychiatric disorder following separation from service is found in the November 2020 VA examination report, which indicated that the Veteran's anxiety is related to his service-connected hearing loss. The Board determined that it was not factually ascertainable that he had an acquired psychiatric disorder prior to June 19, 2020.
- Claimed conditions
- an unspecified anxiety disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 14, 2021
- Citation
- A21019913
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 A21019913.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disability and a TDIU due solely to service-connected acquired psychiatric disability are being remanded because the VA did not provide him with a new VA examination, which is a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically unspecified anxiety disorder. The evidence is at least evenly balanced that this condition began during active service and is related to in-service events.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disability was dismissed because the Veteran withdrew their request before the Board made a decision.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not rated higher than noncompensable (0 percent).,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,Service connection for lumbar spine pain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee pain, and right knee pain have all been granted.,Service connection for an unspecified anxiety disorder has been granted.,The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine condition is the primary cause of his bilateral knee and shoulder pain.
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