The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected rheumatic heart disease with mitral stenosis is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of the record.
The deciding factor: The decision was not explicitly stated, but it indicates that further evidence or a medical examination are needed before a determination can be made on the increased rating claim.
- Claimed conditions
- rheumatic heart disease with mitral stenosis, angina, dyspnea on exertion secondary to a combination of massive ascites and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), atriial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- August 17, 2000
- Citation
- 0021831
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 0021831.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease, which is presumed related to in-service exposure to herbicide agents.
- 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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