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
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal regarding the Veteran's entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for atrial fibrillation is remanded due to unclear evidence on whether continuous medication is required for its control.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for chronic kidney disease, atrial fibrillation, hiatal hernia, COPD, and prostate cancer as a result of toxic exposure during the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including tension headaches, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and a bilateral hearing loss disability. The Board also denied an initial compensable rating for the Veteran's headache disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for atrial fibrillation to obtain a medical opinion under the PACT Act regarding the possibility of a nexus between the claimed disability and in-service exposure to toxins.
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