The Veteran's cardiomyopathy, including diagnosed heart block, is increased to a 60 percent disability rating. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms more closely approximated the criteria for a 60 percent rating than a 30 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner's opinion was deemed inadequate due to lack of medical evidence and failure to consider lay statements, leading the Board to find in favor of a higher rating based on competent and credible lay and medical evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- cardiomyopathy, heart block
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- August 22, 2024
- Citation
- A24049018
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 A24049018.
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.
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of secondary service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) related to the Veteran's service-connected foot disability and depression.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cardiomyopathy and hypertension due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in the April 2025 rating decision. The issues are being remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician.
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