The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of a rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals, trimalleolar fracture left ankle; an initial rating in excess of 60 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) with coronary artery bypass grafting associated with herbicide exposure; and entitlement to an effective date earlier than August 27, 2015, for the grant of service connection for CAD. The Board has also determined that a TDIU issue must be remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran underwent VA examinations in February 2019 which were not considered by the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) in conjunction with the claim currently on appeal, and additional evidence was added to the record since the May 2018 supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).
- Claimed conditions
- residuals, trimalleolar fracture left ankle, coronary artery disease (CAD) with coronary artery bypass grafting
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 31, 2019
- Citation
- 19182329
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 claim for service connection for prostate cancer and residuals, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between his in-service prostatitis and his later diagnosis of prostate cancer.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for kidney cancer and residuals as the evidence did not support a causal relationship between the Veteran's in-service toxic risk exposure and his current condition.
- Granted
The veteran's kidney disease, including cancer and residuals, is service-connected as secondary to their diabetes.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal, so the case is dismissed.
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