The Veteran's non-ischemic heart condition, including congestive heart failure, ventricular arrhythmia, and cardiomyopathy, is found to be related to his in-service exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange. Service connection for this condition is granted.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner provided a negative nexus opinion regarding ischemic heart disease, but the private cardiologist concluded that the Veteran's non-ischemic heart condition was etiologically related to his in-service exposure to herbicides.
- Claimed conditions
- non-ischemic heart condition, congestive heart failure, ventricular arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 9, 2019
- Citation
- 19127312
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a heart condition to obtain an addendum opinion from a VA clinician regarding whether the Veteran's current heart condition is related to service, including in-service treatment for hypertension.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding no evidence that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service.
- Partly granted
The appeal was granted for the severance of service connection for hypertension and entitlement to service connection for a heart disability (claimed as cardiomyopathy) associated with hypertension. The claim for an initial compensable rating for hypertension was remanded.
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