The Board has remanded the case for further medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's PTSD contributed to his death from myocardial infarction, including consideration of a new article submitted by the appellant.
The deciding factor: The VA physician previously opined that it is less likely than not that the Veteran’s startle response contributed to causing his myocardial infarction. The Board now requires further opinion considering a new medical article indicating PTSD increases the risk of coronary heart disease and prevalence of myocardial infarction.
- Claimed conditions
- Myocardial infarction, Congestive heart failure, Raynaud's syndrome, Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Cold injury, Residuals of cold injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 23, 2021
- Citation
- 21024532
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 21024532.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his myocardial infarction and COPD to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (o) rate and SMC at the (r)(2) rate, effective January 19, 2025. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions warrant these awards due to his need for aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for heart condition was granted with an effective date of August 1, 2019. The decision is based on evidence showing exposure to diesel and gas fuel during service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has identified a contradiction in the AOJ's determinations regarding the Veteran's need for aid and assistance, which requires clarification. The remanded issues are entitlement to SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another and on the basis of statutory housebound status.
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