The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, finding that his ASD and its residuals are congenital defects not subject to superimposed disease or injury related to service. The Board also found no current disability other than ASD and its residuals.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of evidence reflects that the Veteran’s ASD is a congenital defect and was not subject to a superimposed disease or injury, thus preventing service connection for any resultant disabilities such as atrial fibrillation, sinus bradycardia, and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).
- Claimed conditions
- Atrial septal defect (ASD), Sinus bradycardia, Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19105325
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,549 · Granted: 29% (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 19105325.
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: Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for sinus bradycardia is dismissed. The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and bilateral hearing loss.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, a renal disability, left ventricular hypertrophy, and right lower extremity paralysis, as well as an earlier effective date of March 15, 2018. Special monthly compensation at the aid and attendance rate was also granted.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for sinus bradycardia to obtain an addendum medical opinion addressing direct service connection and secondary service connection.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for heart, left knee scar, hearing loss, right finger, granuloma, and lipoma disabilities due to the Veteran's withdrawal.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.