The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the nature and cause of the Veteran's heart conditions, including whether they are related to service or herbicide agent exposure.
The deciding factor: An addendum opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran’s heart conditions are at least as likely as not due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents on a direct basis.
- Claimed conditions
- aortic sclerosis, mild pulmonary regurgitation, mild tricuspid regurgitation
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 8, 2021
- Citation
- 21001455
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 21001455.
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 for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions on service connection and exposure history.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's heart conditions, including paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and mitral valve insufficiency. The Veteran contends that his heart conditions are related to service exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange).
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for aortic sclerosis, finding that it was caused by the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a heart disability, claimed as mild tricuspid regurgitation, to obtain an adequate medical opinion addressing its etiology.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.