The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for clarification regarding whether the Veteran's bicuspid valve prolapse with heart valve replacement and congestive heart failure was related to service. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion on the nature and etiology of the condition, including whether it is a congenital defect or disease, and if so, whether it first manifested in service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that clarification is needed regarding whether the Veteran's bicuspid valve prolapse was related to service due to lack of evidence showing symptoms during service.
- Claimed conditions
- bicuspid valve prolapse, heart valve replacement, congestive heart failure
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 11, 2021
- Citation
- 21001786
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 21001786.
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
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- Denied
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