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 assigned
- 30%
- 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 18120220.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.