The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and an increased rating for limited motion of the jaw were denied. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for his claimed heart disability, as it was neither caused nor aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. For the period prior to November 16, 2011, he did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for limited motion of the jaw. Since November 16, 2011, he is assigned the maximum, 40 percent schedular rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's heart disability was first shown many years after active duty and is not related to any injury, disease or event incurred in service; a heart disability was neither caused nor aggravated by a service-connected disability. Prior to November 16, 2011, the service-connected limited motion of the jaw did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as per VA rating criteria. Since November 16, 2011, he is assigned the maximum, 40 percent schedular rating.
- Claimed conditions
- heart disability, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- February 21, 2018
- Citation
- 1810809
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 1810809.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's hypertension was granted service connection effective August 10, 2022. The heart disability was granted secondary to the hypertension.,An initial rating of 30% for the heart disability was granted in May 2023 and increased to 60% since October 22, 2024.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a heart disability, finding that it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, heart disability, and rheumatoid arthritis due to procedural errors in obtaining necessary medical opinions.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, heart disability, sleep apnea, asthma, and chronic bronchitis as new and relevant evidence was not received to reopen these claims. The Veteran did not have current diagnoses of asthma or chronic bronchitis during the appeal period.
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