The Board remands the case for a retrospective opinion from a cardiologist or other heart specialist to address the severity of the Veteran's ischemic heart disease (IHD) prior to June 27, 2019.
The deciding factor: The Board failed to adequately consider the Veteran's April 2017 hearing testimony and did not provide adequate reasons and bases regarding the qualifications of the VA examiners.
- Claimed conditions
- Ischemic heart disease (IHD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 21, 2025
- Citation
- 25006959
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 remands the claim for service connection for a heart disability, to include ischemic heart disease (IHD), due to an incomplete military personnel record and the need for further development of evidence related to exposure to Agent Orange.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance due to a service-connected prostate disability.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease, cardiac hypertrophy, and an initial compensable rating for hypertension. The claims for a breathing condition and lung infection were remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of January 7, 2022, for the award of service connection for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and tinnitus.
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