The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 20, 2012 for the grant of service connection for ischemic cardiomyopathy status post myocardial infarction was denied. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date provided by law is February 20, 2012 due to the Veteran not having a claim for ischemic heart disease denied between September 1985 and May 1989 or having a pending claim of service connection for an ischemic heart disease between May 1989 and August 31, 2010. The Board also found that VA treatment records from July 2009 through December 2010 were not associated with the claims file.
The deciding factor: The effective date of an award of service connection is based on when the application for service connection was filed, not when a diagnosis was made or when treatment began. The Veteran did not have a claim for ischemic heart disease denied between September 1985 and May 1989 or having a pending claim of service connection for an ischemic heart disease between May 1989 and August 31, 2010.
- Claimed conditions
- Ischemic cardiomyopathy, Myocardial infarction
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 25, 2018
- Citation
- 18144636
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 18144636.
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 the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his myocardial infarction and COPD to his military service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and other disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 29, 2020. Effective from that date, the Veteran is granted TDIU and SMC housebound.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction, status post stent placement, as well as obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his heart condition was not related to his military service and could not be presumed due to herbicide exposure. The Board also found insufficient evidence linking his heart condition to asbestos exposure during service.
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