The Board has denied a higher rating for cardiomyopathy and remanded the issues of service connection for bladder cancer and TDIU prior to March 26, 2016. The Veteran's claim is being returned due to the need for additional medical opinions.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support granting a higher rating for cardiomyopathy or establishing service connection for bladder cancer based on Agent Orange exposure. The TDIU claim must be remanded as it may be significantly impacted by the outcome of the bladder cancer service connection issue.
- Claimed conditions
- Cardiomyopathy, Bladder Cancer
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 31, 2019
- Citation
- 19107473
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 hypertension, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure with ICD placement, diabetes mellitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease, tinnitus, sinus tachycardia, and cardiomyopathy. The claims for irritable bowel syndrome and an acquired psychiatric disorder were remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for a liver disorder and kidney disorder, while remanding claims for cardiomyopathy, right lower extremity disorder, left lower extremity disorder, hypertension, systemic lupus erythematosus, diverticulosis in the sigmoid colon, and left nose scar status post basal cell carcinoma removal.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for a liver disorder and kidney disorder, while remanding claims for service connection for cardiomyopathy, right lower extremity disorder, left lower extremity disorder, hypertension, systemic lupus erythematosus, diverticulosis in the sigmoid colon, and left nose scar status post basal cell carcinoma removal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for the cause of death and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to correct a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error, as the VA examinations are inadequate.
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