The Veteran's appeal for service connection of chronic heart failure is remanded due to the need for a new medical opinion regarding whether his heart disability is proximately due or aggravated by his obstructive sleep apnea.
The deciding factor: A new VA examination and medical opinion are needed to address whether the Veteran’s cardiac disability, including chronic heart failure, is caused or aggravated by his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic heart failure
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 17, 2020
- Citation
- 20041308
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 20041308.
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 has granted service connection for chronic heart failure due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents, but denied service connection for cysts on both kidneys as the evidence does not support a link to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease, chronic heart failure, and mitral regurgitation associated with Camp Lejeune contaminated water exposure is granted. The Board found that the diagnosed conditions originated as a result of his presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during active duty.
- Granted
The Veteran's heart disability, including chronic heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and atrial fibrillation, was granted service connection on March 14, 2017, due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The effective date is set for that day.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection and TDIU was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.
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