The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, including CHF, AICD, coronary artery bypass graft, and aortic valve stenosis, as the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.
The deciding factor: The probative evidence of record does not support a link between the Veteran's current heart disabilities and his service or any pre-existing condition that was aggravated by service.
- Claimed conditions
- Congestive heart failure (CHF), Automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD), Coronary artery bypass graft, Aortic value stenosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 10, 2023
- Citation
- 23001330
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 Board denied a rating higher than 60 percent for the Veteran's heart disabilities and granted service connection for major vascular neurocognitive disorder, but denied special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a heart disability, diagnosed as congestive heart failure (CHF), due to a duty to assist error and the need for a new medical opinion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a heart condition to obtain further evidence and an adequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection, including exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of congestive heart failure to correct a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the rating decision on appeal.
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.