Service connection is granted for coronary artery disease and hypertension. The Veteran's atrial fibrillation, implanted cardiac pacemaker, and sick sinus syndrome status post VVI pacemaker placement are remanded due to inadequate opinions.,Service connection is granted for a skin disability (residuals of jungle rot, actinic keratosis, melanoma) as due to herbicide agent exposure and/or sunlight exposure. The Veteran's diagnoses of neoplasm of unspecified behavior of bone, soft tissue, and skin, angioma, and lentigo are remanded due to inadequate opinions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran has current diagnoses of coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction (ischemic heart disease), atrial fibrillation, and implanted cardiac pacemaker. His military personnel records confirm his Vietnam service, thus exposure to herbicide agents is conceded.,Hypertension was not listed as a presumptive condition related to herbicide agent exposure in VA regulations. However, the Board found that there is sufficient epidemiologic evidence 'to conclude that there is a positive association' between hypertension and herbicide exposure based on the 2018 NAS Update.
- Claimed conditions
- coronary artery disease, hypertension, atriial fibrillation, implanted cardiac pacemaker, sick sinus syndrome status post VVI pacemaker placement, residuals of jungle rot, actinic keratosis, melanoma
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 28, 2022
- Citation
- 22043142
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 22043142.
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 Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
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