The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for cardiovascular disease, including cardiomyopathy. The evidence submitted since May 1997 includes current diagnoses of a heart disability and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions are in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's current cardiomyopathy is related to his service, with one examiner believing it unlikely and another finding it more likely than not that the condition was incurred during service.
- Claimed conditions
- cardiomyopathy
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 15, 2012
- Citation
- 1217317
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 1217317.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a heart disability, finding that it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's heart condition, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected PTSD.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cardiomyopathy and hypertension due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in the April 2025 rating decision. The issues are being remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 8, 2024, for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) with bypass graft, acute, subacute, or old myocardial infarction, automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator, and cardiomyopathy was denied. The Board found that the effective date should be April 8, 2024, as it is based on the date of receipt of his intent to file a claim for compensation.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.