The Veteran's atrial fibrillation and bradycardia are found to be related to his presumed in-service exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) and/or to his service-connected PTSD with alcohol abuse.
The deciding factor: A VA specialist concluded that the Veteran’s AF was at least as likely as not caused by his presumed Agent Orange exposure or his service-connected PTSD with alcohol abuse, based on a review of medical literature and the Veteran's history.
- Claimed conditions
- bradycardia, atriial fibrillation
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 19, 2018
- Citation
- 18143609
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 18143609.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to readjudicate claims for service connection for bradycardia, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, emphysema, hypothyroidism, polypectomy, prostate cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis as new and relevant evidence was not received. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability is remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for left hip joint replacement and osteoarthritis of the MCP and CMC joints of the right thumb, but denied service connection for bradycardia.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for hypothyroidism, bradycardia as secondary to hypothyroidism, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD with panic attacks and hypothyroidism. A 50 percent evaluation was also granted for PTSD with panic attacks from June 21, 2021 and prior to March 29, 2023, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted effective the same date.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a compensable rating for bradycardia, service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, abscess of the brain (syndrome that causes strokes with residuals manifested by scars), and hypertension due to further development needed.
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