The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected coronary artery disease and posttraumatic stress disorder, as well as his claim for total disability based on individual unemployability, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that VA committed a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error by failing to conduct medical examinations adequate to adjudicate the issues before it and to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- coronary artery disease (CAD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with major depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 19, 2019
- Citation
- A19003741
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 A19003741.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left foot bursitis and coronary artery disease, as well as special monthly compensation based on housebound status.
- Partly granted
The Board granted restoration of a 60 percent rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) effective June 1, 2021, and increased ratings for mid-sternum scar, left lower extremity (LLE) scar, and migraines to 10%, 20%, and 50% respectively, all effective October 26, 2020.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for the AOJ to provide the Veteran with notice concerning his right to a hearing on a supplemental claim in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 3.103(b)(1) and (d)(1).
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) based on the Veteran's presumed exposure to herbicides during his service in Vietnam.
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