The Veteran's heart condition was rated at 10 percent prior to February 21, 2020 and at 30 percent thereafter. The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the heart condition prior to February 21, 2020 but denied any increase in rating from that date onward. The issue of TDIU prior to November 10, 2017 was also remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's heart condition met the criteria for a 30 percent disability rating based on evidence of cardiac dilatation and workload limitations but did not meet the criteria for higher ratings due to lack of episodes of acute congestive heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 30-50%.
- Claimed conditions
- heart condition, chondromalacia right knee with degenerative changes, ischemic heart disease (claimed as coronary arteries), chondromalacia left knee with diffuse degenerative changes, hypertension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- July 24, 2024
- Citation
- A24040435
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 A24040435.
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 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.