The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim and is cumulative or redundant of previous evidence. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the Veteran's cause of death cannot be reopened.
The deciding factor: The new evidence provided by the appellant and VA did not establish a relationship between the diagnosed heart conditions and ischemic heart disease.
- Claimed conditions
- decompensated congestive heart failure, malignant arrhythmia
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 11, 2018
- Citation
- 1821070
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 1821070.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran died in April 2006 due to complications from decompensated congestive heart failure and acute renal failure. The appellant claims that the death was caused by improper treatment at a VA outpatient clinic for cellulitis, which she alleges should have been treated with antibiotics instead of lotions.
- Whole decision: Denied
The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection due to a lack of evidence linking his current cardiac disability to his military service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The appeal is granted as his PTSD is now considered service-connected.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.