The Veteran's additional heart disability, including complete heart block and need for a permanent pacemaker, was caused by VA's carelessness in the tricuspid valve replacement surgery. The Board found that this constituted a qualifying disability under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.
The deciding factor: VA's failure to exercise due care during the tricuspid valve replacement surgery proximately caused the Veteran's additional heart disability, including complete heart block and need for a permanent pacemaker.
- Claimed conditions
- Complete Heart Block, Need for a Permanent Pacemaker
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 20, 2018
- Citation
- 18127891
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 18127891.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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.
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