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 assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 1, 2019
- Citation
- A19000760
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 A19000760.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a heart disability, to include hypertensive cardiovascular disease and myocardial ischemia, as the November 2023 VA examination is inadequate.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded the case to clarify the Veteran's medical conditions and service connection for sinusitis under the PACT Act.
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.