{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/valvular-heart-disease-including-rheumatic-heart-disease","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:29.368Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"condition":"Valvular heart disease (including rheumatic heart disease)","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":1505,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":13.6,"denied_pct":26.8,"remanded_pct":58.1,"granted_on_merits_pct":33.6,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":111,"granted_pct":9.9,"denied_pct":38.7,"remanded_pct":43.2},{"year":2018,"issues":201,"granted_pct":7.5,"denied_pct":34.3,"remanded_pct":54.2},{"year":2019,"issues":197,"granted_pct":8.6,"denied_pct":32.5,"remanded_pct":57.9},{"year":2020,"issues":165,"granted_pct":12.1,"denied_pct":27.3,"remanded_pct":59.4},{"year":2021,"issues":174,"granted_pct":8.6,"denied_pct":20.7,"remanded_pct":68.4},{"year":2022,"issues":145,"granted_pct":14.5,"denied_pct":24.1,"remanded_pct":59.3},{"year":2023,"issues":160,"granted_pct":13.1,"denied_pct":18.8,"remanded_pct":65.6},{"year":2024,"issues":147,"granted_pct":17.7,"denied_pct":19,"remanded_pct":59.2},{"year":2025,"issues":176,"granted_pct":24.4,"denied_pct":22.7,"remanded_pct":52.3},{"year":2026,"issues":71,"granted_pct":29.6,"denied_pct":28.2,"remanded_pct":40.8}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":67.6,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":164,"granted_pct_with":63,"granted_pct_without":26.4},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":1122,"granted_pct_with":31.9,"granted_pct_without":44.4},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":215,"granted_pct_with":70.9,"granted_pct_without":22.3},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":825,"granted_pct_with":29.1,"granted_pct_without":41.3},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":479,"granted_pct_with":39,"granted_pct_without":29.9},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":73,"granted_pct_with":47.4,"granted_pct_without":32.7},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":1028,"granted_pct_with":27.6,"granted_pct_without":53.6},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":74,"granted_pct_with":50,"granted_pct_without":32.8}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":21},{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":14},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":6},{"reason":"presumption of soundness not rebutted","decisions":4},{"reason":"no contrary opinion of record","decisions":3},{"reason":"february 2020 va examiner attributed etiology to lvh","decisions":2}],"denied":[{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":46},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":45},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":38},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":24},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":20},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":17}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26038101","year":2026,"judge":"M. C. GRAHAM","rationale":"Congenital heart condition diagnosed; Progressed at abnormally high rate due to aggravation in service; Private medical opinion found aggravation more likely than not"},{"case_id":"A26038301","year":2026,"judge":"D. JOHNSON","rationale":"Private opinion found heart disorder secondary to PTSD; No contrary opinions of record; Doubt resolved in Veteran's favor"},{"case_id":"A26035692","year":2026,"judge":"ARDIE A. BLAND","rationale":"Diagnosis of diastolic dysfunction; In-service chest pain noted; Private medical opinion linking to service; Benefit of the doubt applied"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26040451","year":2026,"judge":"B.T. KNOPE","rationale":"Symptoms experienced at 3-5 METs; No medical opinion supporting higher rating; Symptoms do not meet criteria for 100% rating"},{"case_id":"A26036483","year":2026,"judge":"A. JAEGER","rationale":"No nexus between heart disorder and TERA; VA examiner opined less likely than not caused by TERA; No medical literature links TERA to CAD or VHD; Known risk factors outweigh TERA; No continuity of symptomatology; Condition did not manifest within one year of separation"},{"case_id":"A26035635","year":2026,"judge":"J. PARKER","rationale":"No in-service injury, disease, or event; No chronic symptoms in service; No continuity of symptoms post-service; Secondary to hypertension denied due to lack of primary SC; VA opinion found related to hypertension"}]},"how_va_rates":null,"rules":[]}}