The Veteran's cause of death is listed as multi-system organ failure due to cardiac arrest. The appellant claims that the Veteran's coronary artery disease, presumed due to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam, caused his cardiac arrest and death. However, the Board has decided to remand the case for a VA examiner to provide an opinion on whether CAD was the cause of death.
The deciding factor: The Board is unable to make a fully informed decision without a medical examination regarding the cause of the Veteran's death due to insufficient evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- Coronary artery disease
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 5, 2022
- Citation
- A22020361
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 A22020361.
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 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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since September 27, 2010. Additionally, he is in receipt of a 60 percent disability rating for coronary artery disease, which meets the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for HISA benefits is granted as the modification requested (a barrier free, roll-in shower) falls within the scope of HISA and addresses his medical need due to his service-connected coronary artery disease.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an adequate VA examination, which is necessary for a fully informed decision on the Veteran's heart disability claim.
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