The Veteran's congenital heart disease (atrial septal defect) clearly and unmistakably preexisted the Veteran's period of active service and was not aggravated by active service.
The deciding factor: Clear and unmistakable evidence shows that the Veteran's congenital heart disease existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service, as determined by a Board of Medical Survey in 1946 and confirmed by medical opinions from a private cardiothoracic surgeon.
- Claimed conditions
- congenital heart disease (atrial septal defect)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 12, 2009
- Citation
- 0909332
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
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.