The Board has remanded the case due to duty-to-assist errors and issues related to service connection for a heart disability, including septal hypokinesis, mitral regurgitation, tricuspid regurgitation, and aortic regurgitation. The earlier effective date issue is also inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim.
The deciding factor: The VA rating decision on appeal was issued before the Veteran elected the modernized review system (AMA), which requires consideration of evidence as of when the election form was submitted.
- Claimed conditions
- septal hypokinesis, mitral regurgitation, tricuspid regurgitation, aortic regurgitation
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 1, 2019
- Citation
- A19000760
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 880 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A19000760.
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: Granted
The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease, chronic heart failure, and mitral regurgitation associated with Camp Lejeune contaminated water exposure is granted. The Board found that the diagnosed conditions originated as a result of his presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during active duty.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for GERD as secondary to the Veteran's PTSD and tinnitus, but denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right ear hearing loss, chronic sinus condition, bilateral hand condition, jaw condition, aortic regurgitation, discoid lupus, residuals of peptic ulcer, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, cervical spine disability, left upper extremity (LUE) radiculopathy secondary to cervical spine disability, and right upper extremity (RUE) radiculopathy secondary to cervical spine disability.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a heart disability, to include heart dysfunction and mitral regurgitation, due to an inadequate VA opinion.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 1, 1993, for the grant of service connection for sleep apnea and April 10, 2006, for the grant of service connection for a lumbar disability. The claim for an earlier effective date prior to January 23, 2019, for the grant of service connection for mitral regurgitation was denied.
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.