The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder and hip disabilities have been reopened due to new and material evidence. However, further examination is needed as the current medical opinions are inadequate.,VA examinations are required for increased ratings of CAD, residual CABG scar, cervical spine disability, left knee disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and bilateral hand disability.
The deciding factor: The Board found that additional VA examinations were necessary due to conflicting medical opinions and the need to address whether service-connected Reiter's syndrome aggravates the Veteran's diagnosed conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), Residual Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) Scar
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 14, 2021
- Citation
- 21063603
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 21063603.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU and SMC for housebound status are granted based on service-connected PTSD from October 12, 2023, and CAD from October 1, 2022. The appeals were granted due to the severity of these conditions preventing the Veteran from securing or following substantially gainful employment.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) is being remanded for a VA examination to determine its current severity and for the consideration of any outstanding private medical records.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU rating based on depressive disorder is granted from October 17, 2018 to March 26, 2019. SMC at the housebound rate is also granted prior to March 26, 2019.
- Granted
The rating for the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) was restored to 100 percent effective December 1, 2025.,The rating for the Veteran's service-connected specified stressor related disorder (psychiatric disability) was restored to 70 percent effective December 1, 2025.
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