The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for dilated cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure is May 8, 2008.
The deciding factor: The Veteran filed a claim for service connection on May 8, 2008. Given his presumptive exposure to herbicides during service in Vietnam and the date he filed his claim, this was considered the earliest possible effective date.
- Claimed conditions
- dilated cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 3, 2016
- Citation
- 1617665
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1617665.
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: Denied
The Board found that the veteran's current cardiac disorder is unrelated to his service and denied his claim for service connection.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the veteran's current cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure is causally related to his in-service episodes of tonsillitis, and affords him the benefit of doubt.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The case is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing and further development.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
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.