The Board remands the matter of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to cirrhosis of the liver and ischemic heart disease (IHD) / coronary artery disease, as further development is necessary to address a newly obtained record showing a possible diagnosis of CAD.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner's unfavorable opinions regarding the Veteran's heart disorder were not based on a complete review of the evidence, including a record showing a possible diagnosis of CAD which is presumptive to Agent Orange exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- cirrhosis of the liver, ischemic heart disease (IHD) / coronary artery disease (CAD)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 12, 2024
- Citation
- 24032865
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.
- Dismissed
The appeals for service connection for various conditions were dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for cirrhosis of the liver, finding that it was due to herbicide exposure during the Veteran's service in Vietnam.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver, but denied earlier effective dates for service connection and a higher rating for tinnitus.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 100 percent for lung cancer but granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance, effective December 7, 2022.
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