The Board has determined that the veteran does not have residuals of a phrenic nerve injury as a result of his service-connected heart disorder and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. Additionally, the criteria to establish compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional disability characterized as residuals of a phrenic nerve injury due to surgery at a VA medical facility in July 1987 have not been met.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the veteran's current symptoms are related to an injury to his phrenic nerve during his 1987 coronary artery bypass graft, and therefore service connection is denied. The criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 have also not been met.
- Claimed conditions
- Phrenic nerve injury
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 26, 2001
- Citation
- 0119444
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 0119444.
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 Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an expert medical opinion regarding the Veteran's phrenic nerve injury and its relation to non-VA cervical or spinal injections performed in 2016.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be caused by his service-connected low back and radiculopathy disabilities, which prevent him from doing enjoyable activities and daily living tasks.
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