The Veteran's atrial fibrillation manifested with fewer than four episodes per year, and thus a disability rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted. The Board finds that the evidence does not support reopening his claim for service connection for chronic strain of the inner thighs or establishing service connection for heart disorders or TBI.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's atrial fibrillation had fewer than four episodes per year, which did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 7010. The VA examiner opined that the hypertension was likely due to tobacco and alcohol use, obesity, age, and family history, and there is no evidence of any other heart disorder related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Atrial Fibrillation, Chronic Strain of Left and Right Inner Thighs (to include as secondary to service-connected mechanical low back pain), Heart Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 31, 2013
- Citation
- 1303394
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 1303394.
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: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and its residuals, including unsteady gait, somnolence, and cognitive dysfunction. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible lay statements about in-service head injuries and subsequent seizures.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and therefore, service connection for TBI is denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to service-connected TBI with PTSD is granted, effective September 6, 2018.
- Whole decision: Granted
Service connection for OSA is granted, and the Veteran's initial ratings for atrial fibrillation, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity neuralgia, and left upper extremity neuralgia are all granted at 10 percent.
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