The veteran's service-connected heart disability prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to May 20, 2002. However, the evidence does not show that he was unemployable due to his service-connected condition prior to this date.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not demonstrate that the veteran's service-connected heart disability prevented him from participating in all forms of substantially gainful employment prior to May 20, 2002.
- Claimed conditions
- acute rheumatic fever, rheumatic heart disease with slight cardiomegaly, aortic insufficiency, mitral insufficiency
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- October 3, 2007
- Citation
- 0731208
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 0731208.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for aortic insufficiency, aortic stenosis and congestive heart failure, and carotid artery disease. The conditions are related to in-service exposure to toxic substances and stress.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the proposed reduction of his rating for hypertensive heart disease, including valvular heart disease and aortic insufficiency.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer with urinary incontinence, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), aortic insufficiency, and urothelial carcinoma (bladder cancer) as the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's heart condition, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service. The decision also acknowledges that the Veteran's PTSD may have contributed to his heart conditions.
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