The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability and there was no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service.,Service connection was also denied for left arm and shoulder disorders, as well as right arm and shoulder disorders. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to military service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not have a current heart disorder at the time of his claim or during VA examination, and there is no medical evidence showing that he had such a condition in service.,For left arm and shoulder disorders, right arm and shoulder disorders, and cervical spine disorders, the Board found no evidence linking these conditions to military service. The Veteran's upper extremities were normal at separation from service, and there was no objective x-ray evidence of arthritis within one year of his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Heart Disorder, Left Arm and Shoulder Disorder, Right Arm and Shoulder Disorder, Cervical Spine Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 27, 2020
- Citation
- 20021896
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 20021896.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the service connection claims for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Heart Disorder due to a duty to assist error in obtaining opinions regarding whether these conditions are aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart disorder and OSA, as secondary to a heart disorder due to incomplete records and failure to consider all relevant in-service exposures. The Veteran's exposure to PFAS at Robins AFB is acknowledged, but further development is needed to address his COPD and smoking history.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a heart disorder is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the July 2020 VA medical opinion, which did not adequately address the Veteran's assertions regarding the carelessness or negligence of his health care providers and the failure to diagnose and treat his heart condition.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disorder, characterized as an exercise induced left bundle branch block, began during his active duty service and is therefore granted service connection.
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