The Board found that the veteran's service-connected rheumatic fever residuals did not contribute to his death from atherosclerotic vascular disease, and thus denied the claim for service connection.
The deciding factor: There is no competent medical evidence showing that the veteran's service-connected rheumatic fever residuals were a contributory cause of his fatal atherosclerotic vascular disease.
- Claimed conditions
- atherosclerotic vascular disease, rheumatic fever residuals
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 13, 2008
- Citation
- 0805163
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 0805163.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and will need to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cause of death.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's disabilities caused by high cholesterol, including transient ischemic attack (TIA) and atherosclerotic vascular disease, are secondary to his service-connected chronic kidney disease with hypertension and diabetes mellitus. The claim is therefore granted.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's cause of death is remanded due to insufficient verification of herbicide exposure in Korea and CLCW exposure at Camp Lejeune. The AOJ must verify these exposures before service connection can be determined.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for an effective date earlier than August 4, 2016, and a higher initial disability rating prior to April 13, 2021, for coronary artery disease due to further development being necessary.
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