The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to an additional respiratory or cardiac disability caused by a VA CABG surgery in July 2008 at the Washington D.C. VAMC was denied as he did not incur such disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's post-surgical recovery from the CABG was without incident, and no chronic respiratory or cardiac disabilities were diagnosed during his hospitalization or subsequent treatment records.
- Claimed conditions
- Respiratory disability, Cardiac disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 19, 2020
- Citation
- 20074449
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,104 · Granted: 28% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20074449.
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 decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's cardiac disability and service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a cardiac disability and diabetes mellitus, type II, due to asbestos exposure. The VA will obtain additional medical opinions to address whether these conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service asbestos exposure.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability and a left shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service event or injury resulting in these conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for PTSD, CFS, and a respiratory disability. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.