The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection for a heart disability and stroke residuals. The Veteran's atrial fibrillation and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are being evaluated in light of his herbicide exposure, but no direct evidence supports this claim. Service connection is also being reconsidered for stroke residuals as secondary to a heart disability.
The deciding factor: The opinions provided do not adequately address the etiology of the Veteran's atrial fibrillation and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in relation to his service or herbicide exposure, necessitating further examination and opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- atriial fibrillation, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 1, 2021
- Citation
- 21071714
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 21071714.
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 remands the claim for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is related to his service.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including right and left shoulder strains with degenerative arthritis, right and left hip degenerative arthritis, left ankle degenerative arthritis with chronic instability and anterior talofibular ligament strain, cervical spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and obstructive sleep apnea, all of which are secondary to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as there was no evidence of current diagnoses or symptoms related to these conditions during the Veteran's active service.
- Denied
The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for various conditions, including migraine headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, myasthenia gravis with right upper extremity muscle weakness, and others.
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.