The Board denied service connection for autoimmune arthritis and denied initial ratings in excess of 10 percent, 60 percent, and 20 percent for atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus, respectively. The Board also denied an initial compensable rating for a residual scar associated with CAD and denied initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for bilateral lower extremity femoral and sciatic nerve neuropathies.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a medical nexus between the Veteran's autoimmune arthritis and his service, nor was there sufficient evidence to warrant higher ratings for the other conditions based on the criteria provided by VA.
- Claimed conditions
- autoimmune arthritis (diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis (RA)), atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus, type II (DM), residual scar associated with CAD, status post coronary artery bypass graft (surgical scars), right lower extremity (RLE) femoral nerve neuropathy, right lower extremity (RLE) sciatic nerve neuropathy, left lower extremity (LLE) femoral nerve neuropathy, left lower extremity (LLE) sciatic nerve neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 13, 2025
- Citation
- A25023436
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal regarding the Veteran's entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for atrial fibrillation is remanded due to unclear evidence on whether continuous medication is required for its control.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus to obtain further medical opinions regarding their potential relationship to toxic exposures during active service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left foot bursitis and coronary artery disease, as well as special monthly compensation based on housebound status.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for right foot, left elbow, left hip, left ankle, and diabetes mellitus to obtain additional medical evidence.
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.