The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for calcifying plaquing distal abdominal aorta, right femoral endarterectomy, and peripheral vascular disease due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's pulmonary disease (COPD) was denied as not related to his service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner could not provide an opinion without resorting to speculation regarding the relationship of the Veteran's calcifying plaquing distal abdominal aorta, right femoral endarterectomy, and peripheral vascular disease to his service or any service-connected disabilities due to lack of information about aggravation.
- Claimed conditions
- pulmonary disease (COPD), calcifying plaquing distal abdominal aorta, right femoral endarterectomy, peripheral vascular disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 14, 2022
- Citation
- 22063579
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 22063579.
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 Veteran's peripheral vascular disease is being remanded due to a duty to assist error, and an addendum opinion is needed to determine if the condition is related to service or his service-connected CAD.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (DM) and coronary artery disease (CAD), finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his active duty at Fort McClellan. The Board also found support for secondary service connection for diabetic neuropathy of various extremities, peripheral vascular disease, and gastroparesis as secondary to DM.
- Dismissed
The appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death while the appeal was pending.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for peripheral vascular disease, finding it is related to the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease with coronary artery bypass graft residuals.
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