The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and a brain disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is presumed sound upon entry into service, but VA must provide an examination if there is sufficient competent medical evidence of a diagnosed disability or symptoms of disability that may be associated with active service.
The deciding factor: The Board found the presumption of soundness attached as no heart or brain disability was noted at entrance to service and the Veteran's claims are for direct service connection, not through a presumption like PACT Act, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, etc.
- Claimed conditions
- Heart disability, Brain disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 18, 2018
- Citation
- 18136254
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 18136254.
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: Denied
The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, finding that the Veteran's current heart diagnoses are not related to his military service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 2, 2015, for TDIU was denied as the evidence did not show actual worsening within one year prior to his March 2, 2015, claim.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and remanded the case for further action on heart disability. The decision regarding right shoulder disability is that it was not incurred in or aggravated by service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a heart disability, claiming chest pains. The May 1997 rating decision found that new and material evidence was not submitted within the required timeframe.
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