The Veteran's initial rating for arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease) is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The amputation of the right great toe, including as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, is remanded due to insufficient evidence.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease did not meet the criteria for a 60% rating (more than one episode of acute congestive heart failure in the past year or workload greater than 3 METs but not greater than 5 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope). The amputation of the right great toe is remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if it is related to diabetes mellitus.
- Claimed conditions
- Arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease), Amputation of the right great toe
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- April 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19125750
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 earlier effective dates and service connection, as well as an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.
- Granted
The Board granted the Veteran's appeal for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C. 1151 for the amputation of the right great toe due to treatment at the Lexington Veterans Administration Medical Center, as the additional disability was not a reasonably foreseeable event.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease) as there was no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents in Korea or Vietnam, and the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's amputation of the right great toe is being remanded for further development due to a lack of an independent medical opinion, and the need to address whether it was caused by neglect or improper treatment at VA facilities.
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