The Board has determined that the reduction of the rating for neurocardiogenic syncope from 60 percent to noncompensable, and the discontinuance of TDIU and DEA benefits were not proper due to a failure to provide the Veteran with the required procedural safeguards.
The deciding factor: The RO failed to afford the Veteran the opportunity for a predetermination hearing as required by regulation when proposing to reduce his rating and discontinue his benefits.
- Claimed conditions
- vasovagal syncope, neurocardiogenic syncope
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 25, 2018
- Citation
- 1804770
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 1804770.
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: Partly granted
The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of vasovagal syncope due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's vasovagal syncope is presumed to have existed prior to service, and the Board must now determine if there is clear and unmistakable evidence that it was not aggravated by military service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of August 11, 2021. The Board granted TDIU effective that date.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted with effective dates of September 25, 2021. The Board has found the Veteran's headaches meet the criteria for a 30% rating and his neurocardiogenic syncope warrants a 60% rating as of January 30, 2023. Other claims have been remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of June 26, 1984, for the award of service connection for vasovagal syncope based on new and relevant service treatment records.
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