The veteran's appeal is on the issue of entitlement to an increased evaluation for his service-connected heart disease. The RO has denied service connection for congestive heart failure, dilated cardiomyopathy and pacemaker placement as secondary to the service connected heart disease. This case is being remanded due to additional development needs.
The deciding factor: The appeal involves a claim for an increased rating for service-connected heart disease, but also includes issues regarding secondary service connection for other conditions. The decision is pending further development of evidence and consideration under new criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- heart disease, manifested by systolic murmur, mitral insufficiency, and premature contractions
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 11, 2003
- Citation
- 0319778
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 0319778.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for an eye condition, hearing loss, heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes due to a regulatory duty to assist error.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease, heart disease, and congestive heart failure as not being related to the Veteran's active service. The Board also denied an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for heart disease and diabetes mellitus to obtain additional medical opinions.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and remanded the other claims for further development.
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