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 assigned
- None in this 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1804770.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.