The Veteran's claimed rheumatic heart disease and aortic valve disease are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of their onset or progression during active duty. The Board finds that the conditions were not incurred in service and are not secondary to any service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: There is no medical evidence showing that the Veteran's rheumatic heart disease and aortic valve disease had its onset during his military service, nor does there appear to be any link between these conditions and his service-connected ischemic heart disease, PTSD, DDD of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the right and left legs, or COPD.
- Claimed conditions
- rheumatic heart disease, aortic valve disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 17, 2012
- Citation
- 1224807
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 1224807.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found new and relevant evidence for the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a heart disorder, and a seizure disorder. The AOJ is required to readjudicate these issues in the first instance.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Partly granted
The veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatic heart disease was granted. The claim for hypertensive vascular disease was remanded.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to January 21, 2017, for surgical residuals of a coarctation of the aorta and entitlement to TDIU prior to that date as these issues have already been adjudicated by the Board.
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