The Veteran seeks compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional disability, specifically mitral valve regurgitation, due to VA medical treatment from May 1997 to June 1997 for subacute bacterial endocarditis streptococcus sanguis. The Board is remanding the case for an addendum opinion that reconciles conflicting private medical evidence and addresses whether the Veteran's heart murmur pre-existed his VA treatment or was caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill in furnishing treatment.
The deciding factor: The addendum opinion must reconcile the private medical records noting development of severe mitral regurgitation subsequent to/as a result of endocarditis in 1997 and determine if this changes any aspect of the April 2013 VA examiner's conclusion regarding pre-existence or causation.
- Claimed conditions
- mitral valve regurgitation
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 28, 2013
- Citation
- 1327615
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 1327615.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, mitral valve regurgitation, and prostate cancer as there is no probative evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his mitral valve regurgitation, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and hypertension, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. As such, TDIU is granted.
- Granted
The Veteran's heart disorder is related to his service-connected esophageal and lung cancers, and the Board has granted secondary service connection for a heart disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's TDIU, SMC at the housebound rate, and basic eligibility for DEA are granted effective February 8, 2023. The Board is remanding these claims to review evidence from June 25, 2020, when service connection was established.
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