The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, as there was no evidence that the Veteran's congenital aortic bicuspid valve or other cardiovascular diseases were related to his military service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's congenital aortic bicuspid valve and other cardiovascular diseases were not the principal or contributory cause of death, and there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Congenital Aortic Bicuspid Valve, Cardiovascular Disease, Parkinson's Disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 11, 2024
- Citation
- 24001884
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and Parkinson's disease as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or a nexus to service, including herbicide exposure.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a 100 percent rating for the Veteran's mental health disability prior to July 9, 2025 and remanded several issues related to service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding TERA development and VA examinations.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and granted service connection for Parkinson's disease, but remanded the claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
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.