The Veteran's claims for service connection for an additional acquired psychiatric condition other than depression and anxiety, as well as his heart condition, have been denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner provided negative nexus opinions on both direct and secondary service connection bases, citing the lack of in-service treatment records for any heart condition, the passage of nearly 40 years between discharge from active service and the first post-service indication of heart trouble, and the Veteran's strong family history of coronary artery disease.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired Psychiatric Condition (Other Than Depression and Anxiety), Heart Condition
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 22, 2017
- Citation
- 1708887
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1708887.
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 remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to a lack of VA examinations and consideration of all relevant evidence, including his National Guard service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent effective April 30, 2024. The Veteran's hypertension does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. Service connection for a heart condition and TDIU are remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, and thus service connection for this condition is denied. The issues of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and heart condition are remanded due to insufficient evidence.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an adequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's heart condition is caused or aggravated by his service-connected OSA and PTSD.
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