The Board has denied service connection for a heart murmur and the residuals of an in-service fracture of the L-1 transverse process. The Veteran's heart murmur was present before his military service, and there is no evidence that it increased in severity during service. For the lower back disability, while the Veteran sustained injuries to his back during service, there is no indication that these injuries resulted in current residuals.
The deciding factor: The pre-existing heart murmur did not increase in severity during service, and there is insufficient evidence of a current disability related to the in-service fracture of the L-1 transverse process.
- Claimed conditions
- Heart Murmur, Degenerative Changes and Disc Space Narrowing of the Lumbar Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 6, 2016
- Citation
- 1618304
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 1618304.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that there is not substantial compliance with its remand directives and requires further development for the issues of service connection for a heart disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and bilateral restless leg syndrome. The VA medical opinions obtained were inadequate to support the decisions on these claims.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder. Service connection is remanded for heart murmur and adenopathy.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence. However, these claims are still pending as they require further development.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of PTSD and bilateral foot disability, as well as service connection for various conditions, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for PTSD or bilateral foot disability.
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