The Board remands the claim for a TERA-specific VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's ischemic cardiomyopathy is related to his in-service exposure to toxins, including asbestos.
The deciding factor: A remand is required due to the need for a TERA-specific VA medical opinion as per the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins Act of 2022 (PACT Act).
- Claimed conditions
- Ischemic cardiomyopathy
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 10, 2025
- Citation
- A25050883
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 granted service connection for coronary artery disease, ischemic cardiomyopathy, aortic aneurysm as secondary to coronary artery disease, and arrhythmia as secondary to coronary artery disease. Sleep apnea was remanded for further consideration.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between any of his fatal conditions and his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the appeal to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding the evidence of record at the time of the agency of original jurisdiction's decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter to obtain an adequate medical opinion addressing the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorders and their relationship to his cause of death.
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