The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, including non-ischemic cardiomyopathy and coronary atherosclerosis, due to herbicide exposure during active duty. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not linked to his military service.
The deciding factor: There is no evidence linking the Veteran’s current heart disabilities to his active service or herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, coronary atherosclerosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 13, 2020
- Citation
- 20046587
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 20046587.
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 granted the Veteran's requests to readjudicate his claims for service connection for coronary atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus type II, but has remanded the cases due to new evidence received. The claims are being remanded for toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) medical opinions regarding any possible nexus between the Veteran's claimed exposures in Camp Lejeune and his conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, AICD, and heart arrhythmias are found to be related to his military service due to Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. The appeal is granted.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for chondromalacia patella and left knee instability is denied, but he is granted service connection for coronary atherosclerosis due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's coronary atherosclerosis is remanded due to duty to assist error in obtaining an adequate TERA opinion, and the Board finds it at least as likely as not related to his service, including exposure to burn pits.
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