The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's PTSD caused or aggravated his heart attack, which led to his death. The appellant and her attorney claim that the Veteran's heart attack should be service-connected on a presumptive basis as he stepped foot in Vietnam.
The deciding factor: A VA medical opinion is needed to determine whether the Veteran's PTSD caused or aggravated any of the conditions listed on his death certificate, specifically myocardial infarction.
- Claimed conditions
- Myocardial Infarction
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 30, 2018
- Citation
- 1818842
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 1818842.
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 is no competent evidence to suggest that PTSD contributed to his passing.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for a separate rating of 10 percent for implantation of cardiac pacemaker due to third degree atrioventricular block is granted. The minimum 10 percent rating is assigned under DC 7018, as the Veteran does not experience supraventricular arrhythmias or ventricular arrhythmias related to his service-connected heart disability and the symptomatology is already contemplated by the rating for CAD.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted compensation pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for the cause of the Veteran's death, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the appellant.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PSVT, arteriosclerotic heart disease, coronary artery bypass graft, myocardial infarction, and AICD are so inter-related that they cannot be separated. The Board grants an initial 100 percent rating for the combined conditions.
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