The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for hypertensive heart disease was denied, as the condition does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,Service connection for hypertensive heart disease was granted with an effective date of September 12, 2018. The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date.,The Veteran's claim for increased rating for end-stage renal disease and TDIU were both remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.
The deciding factor: The criteria for a higher evaluation of hypertensive heart disease have not been met, as the condition does not meet the specific requirements outlined in the Rating Schedule.,Service connection was granted with an effective date of September 12, 2018, but the Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date. The claim has no prior formal or informal communication indicating intent to file a claim for service connection before this date.,The claims for increased rating and TDIU are remanded due to the need for updated medical evidence regarding the current severity of the kidney condition.
- Claimed conditions
- hypertensive heart disease, acute myocardial infarction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 29, 2020
- Citation
- 20070322
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,548 · Granted: 31% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 20070322.
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 Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and other conditions, rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to July 21, 2025.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertensive heart disease as secondary to his service-connected hypertension.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn the appeal for service connection for hypertensive heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertensive heart disease, chest condition, left arm condition, right arm condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all granted.
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