The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from the examiner who conducted the September 2010 VA examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure. The examiner must also provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not that the currently diagnosed atrial fibrillation and CHF were aggravated beyond its natural progression by the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.
The deciding factor: The Board found the September 2010 VA examination inadequate for rating purposes, as it did not provide all of the necessary opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure. The examiner also did not address whether the service-connected diabetes mellitus type II aggravated the Veteran's atrial fibrillation and CHF beyond its natural progression.
- Claimed conditions
- atriial fibrillation, congestive heart failure
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 15, 2015
- Citation
- 1502064
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1502064.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's eligibility for PCAFC benefits is remanded due to the AOJ's failure to address whether it is in the best interest of the Veteran to participate in the program. The Board finds that the Veteran has been in need of personal care services for at least six continuous months based on an inability to perform the ADL of bathing.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by any service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for atrial fibrillation, benign prostatic hypertrophy with outflow obstruction, congestive heart failure, and hypertension due to inadequate VA opinions. The Veteran's exposure during service is conceded to include asbestos and gas chamber exposures.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders, chronic fatigue, congestive heart failure, DM II, hypertension, and a right shoulder condition. The Veteran's claims were based on presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
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