The Board found that the veteran's heart condition, diagnosed as pericarditis, did not occur during active duty and is not related to service. The veteran also does not have a current heart condition related to his 1992 episode of pericarditis. For osteoarthritis of the knee, there is no evidence of such condition in service records or within one year post-service. Therefore, both claims for service connection were denied.
The deciding factor: The veteran's heart condition was not incurred during active duty and is not related to his service. The veteran does not have a current heart condition that can be linked to his 1992 pericarditis episode. For the knee condition, there is no evidence of osteoarthritis or any knee problem in service records.
- Claimed conditions
- Heart Condition (Pericarditis), Osteoarthritis of the Knee
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 5, 2007
- Citation
- 0703558
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 0703558.
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 Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Heart Condition (Pericarditis) are granted service connection as they were incurred during her active duty.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and persistent depressive disorder with mixed features result in the need for aid and attendance of another person due to memory impairment and the requirement of more than one insulin injection per day.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder does not require the care or assistance of another on a regular basis, and he is not housebound due to his service-connected disability. Therefore, entitlement to SMC based on aid and attendance or housebound status is denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral knee disability due to the need for additional medical opinions.
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