The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for heart disorders as secondary to his service-connected PTSD with anxiety and depression, finding no competent medical evidence that the PTSD caused or aggravated the coronary artery disease.
The deciding factor: There is no competent medical evidence establishing that the service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated the veteran's coronary artery disease.
- Claimed conditions
- heart disorders
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 6, 2002
- Citation
- 0217637
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 0217637.
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 remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and heart disorders as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disorder due to inadequate medical opinions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective March 30, 2012. The appeals for higher ratings for his lumbar conditions are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew them.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, including an ischemic heart condition and coronary artery disease (CAD), finding no relationship between his current heart disorders and active duty service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases due to various issues including a need for additional development and examination, as well as potential service connection based on exposure to herbicide agents.
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.