The Board denied service connection for atrial fibrillation, granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine (low back disability), and granted service connection for celiac disease. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of atrial fibrillation or residuals thereof. There is no medical opinion linking his low back disability to service. Service connection was granted for celiac disease based on continuity of symptomatology since service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, and the Veteran's testimony regarding this condition was not credible. The VA examiner opined that the low back disability is not related to service due to lack of in-service diagnosis. Service connection for celiac disease was granted based on continuity of symptomatology since service.
- Claimed conditions
- Atrial fibrillation, Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine (low back disability), Celiac disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19100527
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for congestive heart failure with implanted pacemaker, bradycardia, valvular heart disease, and atrial fibrillation, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board is remanding the claim for service connection of the Veteran's cause of death due to a lack of adequate medical evidence regarding the potential nexus between atrial fibrillation and in-service exposure, as well as other service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder, obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD, atrial fibrillation as secondary to hypertension, and congestive heart failure with cardiomyopathy and ventricular hypertrophy as secondary to hypertension.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board of Veterans' Appeals remands the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a recurrent sleep disability to include obstructive sleep apnea, and ratings for atrial fibrillation and a right groin scar due to unverified periods of active duty with the Florida Air National Guard.
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.