The Veteran's pericarditis with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and hypertension are found to have existed prior to his active duty service.,Since the effective date of the grant of service connection, the Veteran's acid reflux has been manifested by heartburn (pyrosis), regurgitation, substernal chest burning, low grade substernal chest dull pressure, and occasional vomiting and diarrhea.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner opined that it was not likely that the Veteran's condition of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or hypertension were aggravated during his military service and it is likely that their symptomatic presence during service resulted from the normal progression of these conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Pericarditis with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, Hypertension
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 11, 2009
- Citation
- 0917667
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 0917667.
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: Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 10% rating for hypertension effective December 1, 2025 and denied a rating in excess of 10%. The reduction from 10% to noncompensable was not proper.
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