The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and cardiovascular disease, including hypertension and acquired heart disease, as secondary to PTSD. The Board found that there was no evidence of a confirmed diagnosis of PTSD and that the current cardiovascular issues were not related to PTSD.
The deciding factor: Service connection for PTSD was denied due to lack of confirmation of the condition and the examiner's opinion that the veteran did not fit the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Service connection for cardiovascular disease, including hypertension and acquired heart disease, was also denied as the examiner found no link between these conditions and PTSD.
- Claimed conditions
- Cardiovascular Disease, including hypertension and acquired heart disease, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 14, 2003
- Citation
- 0307138
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 0307138.
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent rating prior to March 7, 2022, while other claims were denied.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and GAD, as well as tinnitus.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, as it needs a medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the condition prior to October 16, 2023.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.
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