The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities caused his obesity, which was a substantial factor in causing his cardiomyopathy. Therefore, secondary service connection for cardiomyopathy is granted.
The deciding factor: Obesity, caused by the service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, was found to be a substantial factor in causing the Veteran's cardiomyopathy.
- Claimed conditions
- cardiomyopathy
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 12, 2021
- Citation
- 21062899
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,036 · Granted: 27% (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 21062899.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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 Board has granted service connection for a heart disability, finding that it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's heart condition, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected PTSD.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cardiomyopathy and hypertension due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in the April 2025 rating decision. The issues are being remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 8, 2024, for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) with bypass graft, acute, subacute, or old myocardial infarction, automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator, and cardiomyopathy was denied. The Board found that the effective date should be April 8, 2024, as it is based on the date of receipt of his intent to file a claim for compensation.
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