The Veteran does not have a current cardiac disorder related to his service-connected recurrent rheumatic fever, with pericarditis.
The deciding factor: There is no objective evidence of organic cardiovascular disability as residuals of service-connected rheumatic fever.
- Claimed conditions
- recurrent rheumatic fever, with pericarditis, left ventricular hypertrophy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 17, 2009
- Citation
- 0909913
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 granted service connection for valvular heart disease and left ventricular hypertrophy, finding that these conditions are caused by the Veteran's service-connected hypertension.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for his service-connected heart condition, as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for a cardiovascular disorder, other than supraventricular arrhythmia, to include hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction, on a direct basis or as secondary to service-connected supraventricular arrhythmia.
- Granted
The Board granted a disability rating of 30 percent for left ventricular hypertrophy, but no higher.
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