The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for rheumatic heart disease, service connection for a CVA with left-sided hemiparesis as secondary to his service-connected rheumatic heart disease, and special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound rate.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not support the veteran's claims of direct service connection for rheumatic heart disease or CVA, nor could it be established that the CVA was secondary to his service-connected rheumatic heart disease.
- Claimed conditions
- Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA) with Left-Sided Hemiparesis, Rheumatic Heart Disease
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 8, 2004
- Citation
- 0409236
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,599 · Granted: 37% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0409236.
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: Granted
The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is rated at 60 percent for the period prior to July 1, 2022. The Board also granted a TDIU for this period and dismissed the appeal for a TDIU from July 1, 2022 onwards as moot.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions regarding his service-connected rheumatic heart disease and surgical scar.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, finding that his pre-existing conditions did not meet the criteria for aggravation during service and thus could not be service-connected.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's rheumatic heart disease with aortic valve replacement has been manifested by stable symptoms and no significant cardiac complications, warranting a current rating of 30 percent.
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