The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, cardiac arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy, may be related to his service due to combat exposure in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm. However, further medical opinions are needed to determine if PTSD is causally linked to service or if drug and alcohol dependence disorder aggravates any psychiatric disorders.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's death was caused by cardiac arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy, which may be related to his in-service combat exposure. However, a definitive link between PTSD and service is needed for service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- cardiac arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 2, 2018
- Citation
- 18146966
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 18146966.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a heart disability, finding that it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's heart condition, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cardiomyopathy and hypertension due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in the April 2025 rating decision. The issues are being remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 8, 2024, for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) with bypass graft, acute, subacute, or old myocardial infarction, automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator, and cardiomyopathy was denied. The Board found that the effective date should be April 8, 2024, as it is based on the date of receipt of his intent to file a claim for compensation.
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