The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's vascular condition, specifically carotid artery stenosis. The VA examiner should consider whether there is a correlation between carotid artery stenosis and coronary artery disease, which may be related to herbicide exposure.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the October 2015 VA examination was inadequate as it did not address the Veteran's lay statements or competent diagnoses regarding his stroke and its residuals.
- Claimed conditions
- vascular condition, carotid artery stenosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 31, 2019
- Citation
- 19196948
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19196948.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during its pendency.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the service connection claims for carotid artery stenosis, cerebral aneurysm, constipation, epilepsy, and hypertension to correct a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining additional evidence and opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions and toxic exposures during service.
- Partly granted
The VA properly revised the rating for Meniere's disease to 30% due to a clear and unmistakable error. The veteran is granted SMC benefits based on the need for regular aid and attendance. The claim for SMC based on housebound status is dismissed as moot, and the claim for service connection for COPD is dismissed. The claim for service connection for hypertension is remanded.
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