The Veteran's valvular heart disease is currently rated at 30 percent effective February 21, 2003. The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for his condition from January 23, 2015.
The deciding factor: The VA examination did not provide sufficient information to determine if a higher rating is warranted prior to February 21, 2003 or after January 23, 2015.
- Claimed conditions
- Valvular Heart Disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 20, 2018
- Citation
- 18120220
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 18120220.
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: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for service connection and initial ratings for obstructive sleep apnea, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeal for valvular heart disease was also dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's heart condition, which is related to service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that there is not substantial compliance with its remand directives and requires further development for the issues of service connection for a heart disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and bilateral restless leg syndrome. The VA medical opinions obtained were inadequate to support the decisions on these claims.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 12, 2010 and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter is dismissed. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective from October 31, 2008.
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