The Board denied service connection for sick sinus syndrome with implanted cardiac pacemaker, attributing the condition to a combination of factors including scar tissue from heart surgery and age-related issues. The Veteran's belief in herbicide exposure as the cause was not considered valid due to lack of medical expertise.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no causal link between the Veteran’s sick sinus syndrome with pacemaker and his service, attributing it to pre-existing conditions and medication.
- Claimed conditions
- sick sinus syndrome, implanted cardiac pacemaker
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 23, 2021
- Citation
- 21009861
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 21009861.
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 case due to errors in providing notice of a hearing and for reopening the claim.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied service connection for the cause of death and remanded the issue of a compensable disability rating for bilateral defective hearing.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a more thorough examination, including METs testing, and consideration of his testimony at the Board hearing.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Barrett's esophagus, sick sinus syndrome, and prostate cancer due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran also receives special monthly compensation based on the loss of use of a creative organ.
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