The Veteran's heart condition is not service connected due to lack of a chronic disease manifestation within one year post-service. The Board finds that the current diagnosed valvular heart disease and atrial fibrillation are less likely than not incurred in or caused by an in-service injury, event, or illness. For fatigue and sleep disturbance, there is no separate diagnosis but they are associated with undiagnosed illnesses due to environmental exposures.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current diagnosed valvular heart disease and atrial fibrillation were not shown within one year post-service and the Board finds that these conditions are less likely than not incurred in or caused by an in-service injury, event, or illness. The fatigue and sleep disturbance symptoms are associated with undiagnosed illnesses due to environmental exposures.
- Claimed conditions
- Heart Disability, Fatigue and Sleep Disturbance (claimed as Gulf War chronic disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 1, 2017
- Citation
- 1714143
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 1714143.
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 heart disability has been rated at 100% from September 12, 2022 to August 18, 2023. He is also eligible for special monthly compensation and Dependents' Educational Assistance during this period.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's heart disability is currently rated at 60 percent from February 24, 2023.,The effective date for the grant of TDIU was set to February 24, 2023.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity is denied as there was no prior formal or informal claim submitted before July 2, 2016.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the rating decision on appeal. The Board requests retrospective findings from an appropriate clinician to determine the severity of the Veteran's service-connected heart disability.
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