The Board has granted service connection for atrial fibrillation as secondary to coronary artery disease (CAD). The Veteran's atrial fibrillation is at least as likely as not proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected CAD.,The Board has also granted service connection for a cerebrovascular accident (stroke) as secondary to atrial fibrillation. The Veteran's stroke is at least as likely as not proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected atrial fibrillation.
The deciding factor: Both the private medical records and VA examiner opinions provided evidence that supports the conclusion that the Veteran’s atrial fibrillation was caused by, or aggravated by, his service-connected CAD. The Board found these opinions more probative than the December 2015 VA medical opinion.,The January 2016 private medical record noted that the Veteran suffered an acute left middle cerebral artery stroke as well as evidence of ischemia elsewhere concerning for cardioembolic source. The July 2017 VA medical opinion reasoned that the Veteran's stroke was caused by his service-connected atrial fibrillation, given the risk factors for a stroke including atrial fibrillation.
- Claimed conditions
- atrial fibrillation, cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 22, 2019
- Citation
- 19188523
Veterans Law Judge
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19188523.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for atrial fibrillation and distressed heart (previously claimed as irregular heartbeat) based on evidence of a link to the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right groin pain, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, cardiac arrest residuals, left kidney disease, stroke residuals, vertigo, and vision loss. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred in or are otherwise related to service.,The Board found no credible evidence showing the Veteran experienced any of these conditions during his active duty service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received for the claims of service connection for bilateral dry eye disorder, atrial fibrillation (including as secondary to hypertension), left eye disorder other than dry eye including amaurosis fugax, and right foot or ankle disorder (including as secondary to left foot and/or left ankle disability). The appeals are remanded due to insufficient evidence in the current record.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's atrial fibrillation is at least as likely as not related to his active-duty service and grants service connection for this condition.
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