The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic diastolic heart failure is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the likely etiology of his condition, which may be related to exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam.
The deciding factor: The examiner needs to provide a more detailed opinion on whether the Veteran's current heart condition is related to his conceded exposure to Agent Orange.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic diastolic heart failure
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19127867
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,990 · Granted: 35% (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 19127867.
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: Denied
The Veteran's application for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grants was denied as he does not meet the eligibility requirements due to his service-connected disabilities not meeting the regulatory requirements.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's hypertension, atrial fibrillation and chronic diastolic heart failure, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are granted as service-connected due to herbicide agent exposure under the PACT Act.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic diastolic heart failure was granted. The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 80 percent for nephropathy prior to May 27, 2016 and his claim for a total disability rating for nephropathy from May 27, 2016 to June 7, 2018 were both granted. However, the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's heart conditions are related to herbicide exposure during service.
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.