The Veteran's heart disability, which includes aortic and mitral valve replacements, has been rated at 10 percent since November 27, 2003. The Board found that the evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of this rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's workload tolerance is greater than 8 METs, she does not have cardiac hypertrophy or dilation, and her left ventricular ejection fraction is greater than 50 percent, which precludes a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- II/VI systolic murmur, status post aortic valve replacement, mitral valve replacement, tricuspid valve anuloplasty
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 20, 2011
- Citation
- 1126988
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1126988.
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 service connection for mitral valve replacement, finding that the condition did not have its onset in service and has not been chronic or continuous since service separation. The Board also found no evidence of a causal relationship between the Veteran's PTSD and his heart disability.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to their grant in an earlier decision, leaving no unresolved issues.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infraction and mitral valve replacement (also claimed as heart condition) as secondary to medications taken for his service-connected seizure disorder.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for heart disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his discharge status.
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