The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a cardiomyopathy disability with AICD is denied. The effective date remains January 27, 2016 as this was the date VA received his initial claim.
The deciding factor: VA cannot award benefits back to the time of the Veteran’s active service because the claim that led to an award of service connection for a cardiomyopathy disability with AICD was not filed until January 27, 2016.
- Claimed conditions
- Cardiomyopathy, AICD (Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 24, 2020
- Citation
- 20049481
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 20049481.
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: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for heart condition was granted with an effective date of August 1, 2019. The decision is based on evidence showing exposure to diesel and gas fuel during service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart conditions may be related to his service-connected sleep apnea and/or generalized anxiety disorder, but further examination is needed to determine causation.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of adequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's heart conditions and their relation to service. The Veteran is asked to provide an addendum opinion from a qualified medical professional.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim of CUE in the December 2005 rating decision that assigned a 60 percent initial disability rating for cardiomyopathy with pulmonary hypertension, finding no clear and unmistakable error.
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