The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatic fever, an ear condition, and bilateral eye conditions. The claim for a disability rating of 10 percent for chronic tonsillitis was granted.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of rheumatic fever or any related residuals, nor did it establish that the Veteran's bilateral eye conditions were caused by in-service rheumatic fever. The Board also found no evidence to support a higher rating for chronic tonsillitis.
- Claimed conditions
- rheumatic fever, ear condition, bilateral eye condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- October 25, 2018
- Citation
- 18144268
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 18144268.
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.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions due to a lack of jurisdiction over the claims.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral eye condition, and PTSD was dismissed as the Veteran opted into the modernized appeals system under the Appeals Modernization Act.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating issues due to untimely filings or lack of jurisdiction over deferred claims.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, as well as service connection for various conditions, except for a granted rating of 30 percent for GERD throughout the period on appeal.
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.