The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for a new examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's heart disability, including whether it is related to service-connected asbestosis.
The deciding factor: There are contradictory medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran’s heart conditions, necessitating further evaluation and opinion from a VA specialist.
- Claimed conditions
- non-obstructive coronary artery disease, non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, wide-complex tachycardia with inducible ventricular tachycardia (VT) status post internal cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) placement
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 30, 2018
- Citation
- 18106314
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 18106314.
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 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.
- Granted
The Veteran's non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, AICD, and heart arrhythmias are found to be related to his military service due to Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. The appeal is granted.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for non-obstructive coronary artery disease and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after separation, and that his current heart conditions are not related to active service or exposure to toxins.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than October 4, 2024, for the award of service connection for non-obstructive coronary artery disease was denied. The Board found no basis to grant an earlier effective date.
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