The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for patent foramen ovale, right upper extremity weakness due to TIAs, and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed no residuals of the service-connected conditions, with the exception of mild neurocognitive disorder with depressive disorder, slight dysarthria, and erectile dysfunction with special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ. The Veteran's right upper extremity weakness was rated as 30 percent disabling under DC 8514.
- Claimed conditions
- Patent Foramen Ovale, Right Upper Extremity Weakness
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 15, 2019
- Citation
- 19103735
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,676 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19103735.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% rating for major depression with PTSD is denied.,Service connection for dysphagia/difficulty swallowing, as residual of meningitis, is granted.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for multiple sclerosis and related disabilities were denied. The rating for MS with complications prior to August 27, 2013 was denied as the evidence did not show symptoms warranting a higher rating. Ratings for right upper and lower extremity weakness from January 26, 2016 onward were also denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including mild neurocognitive disorder with depressive disorder and right upper extremity weakness, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of August 23, 2018.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for eligibility for a special home adaptation grant. The Board also granted eligibility for specially adapted housing due to her service-connected multiple sclerosis and related lower extremity weakness.
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