The Board has decided to remand the case due to issues related to the Veteran's discharge from service, and the issue of service connection for heart disability will be reconsidered.
The deciding factor: The decision is based on the need to clarify the nature of the Veteran’s discharge for VA purposes before considering the claim of service connection for heart disability.
- Claimed conditions
- mitral valve replacement, status post endocarditis with splenic infarction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 19, 2020
- Citation
- 20067475
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 Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and mitral valve replacement due to a lack of VA examinations, and the need for further medical opinions.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim of service connection for coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction and mitral valve replacement as secondary to medications taken for the service-connected seizure disorder is granted. The case is remanded for further development.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.