The Board has remanded the case for further development due to lack of substantial compliance with previous directives. The Veteran's heart disorders, including coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure, are not related to his military service or within one year of separation.
The deciding factor: The examiner found that the Veteran’s diagnosed heart disorders were not directly related to his military service, including stress from his MOS as an Air Traffic Control Operator and complaints of chest pain in March 1965, nor did they manifest within one year of his separation from service in October 1966.
- Claimed conditions
- heart disorder, ischemic heart disease (IHD), coronary artery disease (CAD), congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 23, 2020
- Citation
- 20080677
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 for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left foot bursitis and coronary artery disease, as well as special monthly compensation based on housebound status.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a heart condition to obtain an addendum opinion from a VA clinician regarding whether the Veteran's current heart condition is related to service, including in-service treatment for hypertension.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a heart disorder, specifically atrial fibrillation, due to exposure to herbicide agents during active duty service in the Republic of Vietnam.
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