The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, valvular heart disease to include aortic atherosclerosis as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder and bruxism based on the most probative evidence supporting a relationship between the Veteran's PTSD and his heart condition.
The deciding factor: The Board found the August 2022 opinions from the Veteran's treating physicians to be the most probative, as they reviewed the evidence, acknowledged lay statements, and supported their findings with a thorough rationale.
- Claimed conditions
- coronary artery disease, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, valvular heart disease to include aortic atherosclerosis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 13, 2025
- Citation
- A25023476
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a heart condition to obtain an addendum opinion from a VA clinician regarding whether the Veteran's current heart condition is related to service, including in-service treatment for hypertension.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, type II, left eye diabetic retinopathy, left foot diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right foot diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and coronary artery disease, as well as the Veteran's cause of death.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for coronary artery disease to correct duty to assist errors, as there are no adequate medical opinions of record.
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