The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to new and material evidence submitted since the August 2006 rating decision. The case is now remanded for further development, including obtaining VA outpatient records from 1986 through 1994, referring the claims file to a board-certified cardiovascular specialist for an opinion on whether service-connected disability contributed substantially or materially to cause of death, and ensuring that all evidence is compliant with this remand.
The deciding factor: New and material evidence has been submitted since the August 2006 rating decision, allowing the claim to be reopened. The case must now be further developed by obtaining additional VA records and seeking a medical opinion regarding the cause of death.
- Claimed conditions
- cardiopulmonary failure, cerebral vascular accident
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 2, 2015
- Citation
- 1542548
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 1542548.
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 claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records, including those from the Miami VAMC and scanned into VistA.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's death was caused by cardiopulmonary failure and adenocarcinoma of the rectum, both related to his military service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The veteran's service-connected PTSD and other disabilities qualify him for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation based on housebound status.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's cause of death was due to metastatic lung cancer, which the Board found not attributable to service-connected conditions. The examiner opined that his lung cancer was not related to active service exposure.
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