The Veteran's heart condition, including cardiomegaly, congestive heart failure, and tricuspid regurgitation, is being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for an opinion on whether these conditions are at least as likely as not caused by exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection issue.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the previous VA examinations did not address the Veteran's heart condition, including cardiomegaly, congestive heart failure, and tricuspid regurgitation, which are necessary to determine if they are at least as likely as not caused by exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
- Claimed conditions
- heart condition, cardiomegaly, congestive heart failure, tricuspid regurgitation
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 4, 2023
- Citation
- 23000504
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 23000504.
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 service connection for a heart condition, including ischemic heart disease. The evidence did not support a finding of a current disability related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was granted with an initial evaluation of 50 percent, effective September 24, 2007. The appeal regarding the heart condition and sleep disorder is denied. The Veteran's hearing loss prior to August 24, 2015, warrants a 20 percent rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's eligibility for PCAFC benefits is remanded due to the AOJ's failure to address whether it is in the best interest of the Veteran to participate in the program. The Board finds that the Veteran has been in need of personal care services for at least six continuous months based on an inability to perform the ADL of bathing.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by any service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.
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