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.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the Veteran's heart block and rheumatic heart disease were pre-existing conditions that did not meet the criteria for aggravation during service.
- Claimed conditions
- Heart Block, Rheumatic Heart Disease
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 13, 2017
- Citation
- 1757536
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1757536.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The rating for the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) status post CABG was reduced from 100% to 30%, effective March 1, 2025. The reduction was proper as there was improvement in his condition under ordinary conditions of life and work.
- Granted
The Veteran's heart block is granted as secondary to service-connected sleep apnea, hypertension, and PTSD. The issue of a heart disability other than those already service connected is remanded.
- Denied
The Veteran's heart block does not require medication, and his left ventricular ejection fraction was 65 percent. The Board denied an initial compensable disability rating for heart block as the condition did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7015.
- 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.
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