The Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied service connection for chronic organic residuals of acute pericarditis is granted. The Board has also remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for transient heart murmur, sinus bradycardia, intolerance to cold, and shortness of breath.
The deciding factor: The Veteran developed a bout of pericarditis during ACDUTRA in 1982 which resulted in current symptoms such as chronic organic residuals of acute pericarditis, transient heart murmur, sinus bradycardia, intolerance to cold, and shortness of breath. The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine the etiology of these conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic organic residuals of acute pericarditis, transient heart murmur, sinus bradycardia, intolerance to cold, shortness of breath
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 15, 2020
- Citation
- 20040598
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 20040598.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's heart condition is related to service, specifically his combat service in Afghanistan. The AOJ must obtain a new VA examination and provide an adequate medical opinion.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection on four different conditions have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.
- Granted
The Veteran's shortness of breath and Hodgkin's lymphoma are granted service connection, but his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and acquired psychiatric disorder are denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing records and a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The claims will be readjudicated after obtaining any necessary records.
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