The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for mitral valve regurgitation, finding that it did not manifest to a degree of 10% within one year after separation from active service and could not be presumed due to exposure to Agent Orange or other presumptive conditions.
The deciding factor: Mitral valve regurgitation was diagnosed following the appellant's active military service but did not meet the criteria for service connection as it did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service.
- Claimed conditions
- mitral valve regurgitation
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 17, 2002
- Citation
- 0214484
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 0214484.
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 has denied service connection for coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, mitral valve regurgitation, and prostate cancer as there is no probative evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his mitral valve regurgitation, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and hypertension, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. As such, TDIU is granted.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's heart disorder is related to his service-connected esophageal and lung cancers, and the Board has granted secondary service connection for a heart disorder.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's TDIU, SMC at the housebound rate, and basic eligibility for DEA are granted effective February 8, 2023. The Board is remanding these claims to review evidence from June 25, 2020, when service connection was established.
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