The Board found no evidence of a chronic heart disorder in service or within one year post-service, and concluded that any current atrial fibrillation is more likely related to nonservice-connected conditions. The claim for residuals of left pneumothorax was denied as well.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the clinical evidence shows that the veteran's initial episode of atrial fibrillation in service converted to normal sinus rhythm, and subsequent episodes are not linked to service or a service-connected condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Heart Disease, Atrial Fibrillation
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 30, 2006
- Citation
- 0609279
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 Board denied service connection for COPD, obstructive sleep apnea, atrial fibrillation, and hypertension as not being related to the Veteran's active duty or secondary to his service-connected GAD. However, congestive heart failure was granted due to a secondary relationship with his service-connected GAD.
- Denied
The Board denied entitlement to an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, as well as a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidentiary development, including obtaining missing colonoscopy records and seeking an opinion on whether a more comprehensive examination would have been indicated.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death, finding that no service-connected disability caused or contributed to the Veteran's death.
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