The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed. The claim of service connection for PTSD was denied due to uncorroborated stressors, but the claim for bipolar disorder and other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder was granted. The claim for heart disability (atrial fibrillation with bradycardia and coronary artery disease) resulted in a 60% rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claimed PTSD stressors were not corroborated, but the evidence supported service connection for bipolar disorder and other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder. The heart disability claim was granted at a 60% rating due to the lack of supporting medical evidence for higher ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- atriial fibrillation with bradycardia, central and obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type 2, skin cancer, nonobstructive coronary artery disease, seborrheic dermatitis, hyperlipidemia
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- January 18, 2024
- Citation
- 24002670
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,886 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 24002670.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the Veteran meets the basic medical eligibility criteria for PCAFC benefits due to his need for personal care services based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury. However, further clinical evaluation is needed to determine if participation in the program is in the Veteran's best interest.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for heart attack, kidney stones, polycythemia vera, diabetes mellitus type 2, and psoriasis is remanded due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.
- Denied
The Veteran's service connection claims for skin cancer and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions, and the evidence does not support a causal relationship to active military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation and service connection was denied due to a late filing of the Board Appeal request.
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