The Veteran's heart and sternum damage is not considered to be a result of VA treatment, and thus compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.
The deciding factor: No additional disability was shown as a result of the procedures performed during the 1988 hospitalization, and there is no evidence supporting a conclusion that the Veteran's claimed heart and sternum damage were caused or aggravated by VA in furnishing medical treatment to the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- heart damage, sternum damage
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 25, 2010
- Citation
- 1039721
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 1039721.
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 has granted service connection for inactive rheumatic fever, finding that the Veteran's current condition had its onset during his period of service. The issue of service connection for a heart condition other than valvular heart disease remains on appeal.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's additional disabilities, including Parkinson's disease, tremors, heart damage, dementia, lung damage, and kidney damage, were not caused by VA's negligence or lack of proper skill in providing surgical care. The anastomotic leak was a foreseeable complication.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran is seeking compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for health problems including Parkinson's disease, tremors, heart damage, dementia, lung damage, and kidney damage allegedly caused by a negligent surgical procedure and post-operative care provided by VA in December 2008.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 were denied as there is no evidence of additional disability caused by VA treatment in April and May 2003, or that the current disabilities are related to active military service.
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