The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder and a higher initial disability rating in excess of zero percent for bilateral ear hearing loss.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran's heart disorder was related to his active service, including exposure to asbestos. The August 2022 VA examiner opined that it was less likely than not that the heart disorder was incurred in or caused by service and attributed the bundle branch block to the Veteran's history as a long-distance runner.
- Claimed conditions
- Heart disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 9, 2023
- Citation
- 23001294
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The appeal was denied for service connection of a cervical spine disorder, and several claims were remanded for further development.
- Partly granted
The Board granted the reopening of claims for service connection for a heart disorder, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and gout. The remaining claims were remanded for further development.
- Dismissed
The appeals for service connection for a heart disorder, Parkinson's disease, pulmonary disorder, skin rash, and posttraumatic stress disorder are dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder and prostate cancer as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service, including asbestos exposure.
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