The Veteran's rheumatic heart disease with aortic valve replacement has been manifested by stable symptoms and no significant cardiac complications, warranting a current rating of 30 percent.
The deciding factor: The most recent VA examination found the Veteran’s condition to be stable without evidence of congestive heart failure or other significant cardiac issues that would justify an increased rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Rheumatic Heart Disease, Aortic Valve Replacement
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 18, 2016
- Citation
- 1620314
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 1620314.
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 Veteran's ischemic heart disease is rated at 60 percent for the period prior to July 1, 2022. The Board also granted a TDIU for this period and dismissed the appeal for a TDIU from July 1, 2022 onwards as moot.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions regarding his service-connected rheumatic heart disease and surgical scar.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and his aortic valve replacement disability remains at 30 percent. Both conditions are denied for increased ratings.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, finding that his pre-existing conditions did not meet the criteria for aggravation during service and thus could not be service-connected.
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