The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death. The appeal is not about service connection but rather about determining if these conditions were contributory causes of death.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner needs to provide an explanation as to why certain research articles cited by the appellant do or do not apply to this specific Veteran’s case and its impact on his cause of death.
- Claimed conditions
- hypertensive cardiovascular disease with atrial fibrillation, transient ischemic attacks
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 16, 2021
- Citation
- 21014891
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 21014891.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all listed conditions has been dismissed due to his death.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's stroke in February 2016 is found to be less likely related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The Board has ordered a remand for an addendum opinion to address the lay statements of record regarding stress at work due to hearing loss.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for cerebrovascular disease, including as due to herbicide agent exposure or as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, is remanded. The Board notes the duty-to-assist error in not considering VA treatment records and requires a new opinion on whether the Veteran's stroke residuals are related to herbicide agents or any other toxic exposure risk activity (TERA).
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for thrombosis, transient ischemic attacks, and cerebral infarction (claimed as stroke) is dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
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