The Board found that the veteran's aortic valve disease did not warrant an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent from January 5, 1998, to May 7, 2001, and did not meet the criteria for TDIU prior to May 8, 2001.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence during the relevant time frame did not show signs of congestive heart failure or more than sedentary employment being precluded due to the severity of the disability picture.
- Claimed conditions
- aortic valve disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 16, 2009
- Citation
- 0902049
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,467 · Granted: 18% (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 0902049.
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 found new and relevant evidence for the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a heart disorder, and a seizure disorder. The AOJ is required to readjudicate these issues in the first instance.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to January 21, 2017, for surgical residuals of a coarctation of the aorta and entitlement to TDIU prior to that date as these issues have already been adjudicated by the Board.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has awarded an initial 60 percent rating for surgical residuals of a coarctation of the aorta from January 21, 2017 to June 20, 2017. The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypercholesterolemia was denied. The matter of entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to January 21, 2017 for surgical residuals of a coarctation of the aorta is remanded.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.