The Board found that the Veteran's mitral valve disease, which led to heart replacement surgery, is presumed to have existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. The Board granted service connection for this condition.
The deciding factor: The private cardiologist provided a credible opinion linking the Veteran's current heart disorder to rheumatic fever that likely occurred during his early life, including while in military service.
- Claimed conditions
- organic heart disease
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 14, 2010
- Citation
- 1034549
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1034549.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's heart condition was rated at 100% but reduced to 60%. The reduction was overturned, and the original rating of 100% is restored. SMC based on housebound criteria is also restored.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's heart disability, including heart palpitations. The claims are pending further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for organic heart disease, hypertension, and paralysis with drooping of the left side of face (Bell's Palsy) are being remanded due to new evidence submitted since previous denials. The Board is seeking clarification on the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s heart disabilities and their relationship to his service-connected valvular heart disease.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one is needed to determine if the Veteran's diagnosed coronary artery disease had its onset in service.
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