The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's PTSD and/or diabetes mellitus have caused or aggravated his paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. A new VA medical opinion is needed from a cardiologist.
The deciding factor: The Court found that there was not a clear opinion on aggravation and the need to address the impact of diabetes on the Veteran’s condition, leading to remand for further evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19179385
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 multiple conditions, including a bilateral eye disability and cardiovascular conditions, based on the Veteran's in-service occupational exposures.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, and sinus node dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.
- Granted
The Board granted the restoration of a 30 percent rating for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, effective September 22, 2018, as the reduction was improper.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the appeal to obtain an opinion from a clinician as to whether it is in the best interest of the Veteran to participate in the PCAFC, given that the Veteran has been determined to be in need of personal care services for at least six continuous months based on an inability to perform certain ADLs.
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