The Board remands the case for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of diagnosed left carotid artery atherosclerosis and to schedule a VA heart conditions examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected heart condition.
The deciding factor: The March 2022 opinion was found inadequate as it provided a conclusory opinion without explanation or rationale, and the AOJ relied on this same reasoning for denying service connection for left carotid artery blockage without obtaining an opinion regarding the carotid artery.
- Claimed conditions
- coronary artery disease (CAD), post myocardial infarction and bypass graft, left carotid artery blockage, acute, subacute, or old myocardial infarction, arteriosclerotic heart disease (CAD), coronary artery bypass graft, cardiomyopathy, rate controlled atrial fibrillation, right bundle branch block (RBBB)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 4, 2024
- Citation
- A24063439
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 claims for increased ratings for left foot bursitis and coronary artery disease, as well as special monthly compensation based on housebound status.
- Partly granted
The Board granted restoration of a 60 percent rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) effective June 1, 2021, and increased ratings for mid-sternum scar, left lower extremity (LLE) scar, and migraines to 10%, 20%, and 50% respectively, all effective October 26, 2020.
- Partly granted
The appeal was granted for the severance of service connection for hypertension and entitlement to service connection for a heart disability (claimed as cardiomyopathy) associated with hypertension. The claim for an initial compensable rating for hypertension was remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for the AOJ to provide the Veteran with notice concerning his right to a hearing on a supplemental claim in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 3.103(b)(1) and (d)(1).
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