The Board is remanding the case to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected rheumatic heart disease with residuals of rheumatic valvulitis and mitral incompetency contributed to his death, specifically in relation to blastomycosis that he developed during active duty. The opinion must address whether the blastomycosis had its onset in or was otherwise related to his military service.
The deciding factor: The VA physician's opinions were inadequate due to reliance on incorrect facts and lack of consideration of relevant evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- Rheumatic heart disease with residuals of rheumatic valvulitis and mitral incompetency, Blastomycosis, Lung cancer, Atrial fibrillation, Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 9, 2015
- Citation
- 1538500
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 1538500.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's headache disability is granted as service-connected. The left foot condition and lung cancer claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to SMC based on the need for aid and attendance for the Veteran's spouse due to conflicting information in the June 2025 examination. A VA examination is needed to determine if the spouse requires regular aid and attendance.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death (acute respiratory failure, atrial fibrillation, and/or hypertension) is related to his active duty service, including from exposure to toxins and chemicals from open burn pits during the harsh winters in Korea. The Board finds a pre-decisional duty to assist error and remands for obtaining a VA medical opinion.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his lung cancer and military service. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish service connection for lung cancer.
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