The Board remands the claim for a new medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's service-connected OSA and obesity contributed to his dilated cardiomyopathy, which was the cause of death.
The deciding factor: The May 2021 VA medical opinion is found inadequate as it does not provide a clear rationale for its conclusions regarding the contribution of the Veteran's obesity and OSA to his cause of death.
- Claimed conditions
- Obesity, Service-connected Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 11, 2025
- Citation
- A25051306
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is granted a 30 percent disability rating, but no higher. The claims for increased ratings and service connection for other conditions are denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for the Veteran's cause of death and entitlement to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under 38 USC § 1151 due to inadequate medical opinions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the appeal to obtain an additional medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is related to in-service asbestos exposure.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a liver disorder, as the condition clearly and unmistakably pre-existed service and was not aggravated by it. The claims for obesity, left thigh/hip disorder, and right thigh/hip disorder were remanded for further development.
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.