The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's heart disorders, specifically atrial fibrillation and supraventricular arrhythmia. The examiner is requested to provide a new opinion addressing whether these conditions are related to service or caused by CAD.
The deciding factor: The Board has identified inconsistencies in previous medical opinions and requests for clarification on causation and aggravation of the Veteran's heart disorders, particularly atrial fibrillation and supraventricular arrhythmia, which may be related to his service-connected CAD.
- Claimed conditions
- Atrial fibrillation, Supraventricular arrhythmia
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 16, 2021
- Citation
- 21074902
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 21074902.
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 has remanded the claim of entitlement to SMC based on the need for aid and attendance for the Veteran's spouse due to conflicting information in the June 2025 examination. A VA examination is needed to determine if the spouse requires regular aid and attendance.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death (acute respiratory failure, atrial fibrillation, and/or hypertension) is related to his active duty service, including from exposure to toxins and chemicals from open burn pits during the harsh winters in Korea. The Board finds a pre-decisional duty to assist error and remands for obtaining a VA medical opinion.
- Granted
The Veteran's Barrett's esophagitis and GERD were granted service connection as they developed during his military service. However, the Veteran's supraventricular arrhythmia, implanted cardiac pacemaker, and sick sinus syndrome were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for cause of death, finding that his service-connected conditions did not contribute to his death. The evidence showed well-controlled heart symptoms prior to death and no causal relationship between anxiety and cardiopulmonary disease or renal failure.
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