The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, increased ratings for degenerative disc disease and hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux and erosive esophagitis, and a compensable rating for bilateral defective hearing. The veteran's heart condition is not linked to service or a service-connected disability. His back disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5292 or 5393. His hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux and erosive esophagitis meets the criteria for a 10% rating, but his hearing loss is noncompensable.
The deciding factor: The veteran's heart condition was not linked to service or a service-connected disability, making it ineligible for service connection. The back disorder did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5292 or 5393. The hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux and erosive esophagitis met the criteria for a 10% rating.
- Claimed conditions
- coronary artery disease, degenerative disc disease with moderate hypertrophic spurring at L5-S1 and chronic lumbosacral strain, hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux and erosive esophagitis, bilateral defective hearing
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 24, 2000
- Citation
- 0019350
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 0019350.
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: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for coronary artery disease is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and stroke as there was no evidence of herbicide agent exposure during service and the medical opinions were against a nexus to service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction is granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in Korea.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.