The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his pulmonary disability and service connection for a chronic heart disorder secondary to his already service-connected lung condition. The evidence did not support the presence of a current chronic heart disorder or any causal relationship between it and his service-connected lung condition.
The deciding factor: There was conflicting medical evidence regarding whether the veteran had a current chronic heart disorder, and even if he did, there was no evidence to suggest that it was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected lung condition.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic heart disorder, pulmonary condition
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 13, 2002
- Citation
- 0201495
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 0201495.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
Your appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board cannot issue a decision on these claims as they are pending.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back condition, pulmonary condition, and Parkinson's disease due to incomplete records. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain his treatment records and an opinion from a clinician regarding the nature and etiology of each condition.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory condition, finding that his current diagnosis and asbestos exposure during service meet the criteria for service connection.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for pulmonary conditions, including frequent pneumonia, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), based on the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during service in Vietnam.
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.