The Veteran's sternal wound infection and removal of the sternum and attached chest muscles are considered a result of his CABG and mitral valve replacement performed at a VA Medical Center in January 2006, which was not reasonably foreseeable. The Board has determined that the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 have been met.
The deciding factor: The sternal wound infection and removal of the sternum and attached chest muscles were considered a result of the January 2006 CABG and mitral valve replacement, which was not reasonably foreseeable based on the risk factors involved in open heart surgery.
- Claimed conditions
- sternal wound infection, removal of the sternum and attached chest muscles
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- September 30, 2015
- Citation
- 1542371
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 1542371.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
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 remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the timing of the sternal wound infection and subsequent sternectomy, as well as the Veteran's assertions about prior treatment. The claims related to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are being addressed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records from Osceola Regional Medical Center. The focus is on determining if the Veteran was exposed to tactical herbicide agents at Don Muang RTAFB during his service as a fire prevention specialist.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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