The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current heart disorder is related to his service, specifically noting a grade I systolic heart murmur at service separation in June 1973. Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II remains denied.
The deciding factor: Service connection cannot be established as there was no documented heart disorder during service and the Veteran's current heart disorders are not related to his service, including a grade I systolic heart murmur at service separation.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus type II (DM), atherosclerosis of native coronary artery disease (CAD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 14, 2023
- Citation
- A23032001
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 A23032001.
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 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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type II on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure, and also granted service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the right upper, right lower, left upper, and left lower extremities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) memoranda. The AOJ is instructed to obtain a new TERA memorandum considering all toxic exposures the Veteran was subject to as an aviation machinist mate/jet engine mechanic.
- Dismissed
The appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
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