The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records, specifically those from the United States Naval Reserve. The cause of death is listed as cardiac arrest, arrhythmia, and massive acute myocardial infarction.
The deciding factor: Incomplete service records prevent a determination on whether the Veteran's in-service heart attack contributed to his pericarditis and subsequent death.
- Claimed conditions
- Pericarditis, Cardiac arrest, Arrhythmia, Massive acute myocardial infarction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 6, 2019
- Citation
- 19143734
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease, ischemic cardiomyopathy, aortic aneurysm as secondary to coronary artery disease, and arrhythmia as secondary to coronary artery disease. Sleep apnea was remanded for further consideration.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter to obtain relevant SSA records that could provide information pertinent to the Veteran's appeal.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding no evidence that a disability incurred in or aggravated by service either caused or contributed substantially to his cardiac arrest.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter to secure an addendum medical opinion addressing the likely etiology of the Veteran's cause of death, specifically regarding exposure to hazardous chemical agents while stationed at Camp Lejeune.
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