The Board has remanded the case to address service connection for heart disease due to herbicide exposure and TDIU from September 30, 2015. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for a combined rating of at least 70%.
The deciding factor: The evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has ischemic heart disease (IHD) or congestive heart failure (CHF), and neither condition falls under the presumptive diseases associated with herbicide exposure. The TDIU claim was remanded due to insufficient evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the criteria for a combined rating of at least 70%.
- Claimed conditions
- heart disease, ischemic heart disease (IHD), congestive heart failure (CHF)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 14, 2018
- Citation
- 18126395
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 18126395.
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 claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease are being remanded due to the need for VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his exposure to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune during service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for heart disease, hypertension, kidney disease, and low back pain due to potential errors in duty to assist. The AOJ is required to verify the Veteran's alleged exposure to herbicide agents and obtain private treatment records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for artery disease, COPD, diabetes, and heart disease due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's heart condition, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected PTSD.
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