The Board has granted service connection for congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease with ventricular arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, and cardiomyopathy as secondary to medications used to treat his service-connected conditions (chronic urticaria and multiple joints). The evidence is approximately balanced on whether the Veteran's current heart disabilities are proximately due to or the result of these medications.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence, with favorable opinions from a private cardiologist and VA clinicians supporting secondary service connection for the Veteran's heart conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Congestive heart failure, Coronary artery disease with ventricular arrhythmias, Atrial fibrillation, Cardiomyopathy
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 21, 2023
- Citation
- 23052089
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 23052089.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for heart condition was granted with an effective date of August 1, 2019. The decision is based on evidence showing exposure to diesel and gas fuel during service.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted SMC at the (r)(1) rate due to his service-connected major depressive disorder and congestive heart failure, which require regular aid and attendance.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart conditions may be related to his service-connected sleep apnea and/or generalized anxiety disorder, but further examination is needed to determine causation.
- Granted
The Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD) is related to his service-connected hypertension, and the Board has granted service connection for CAD as secondary to hypertension.
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