The Board remands the matter for an etiology opinion regarding the Veteran's atrial fibrillation, considering service connection on a presumptive basis due to exposure to Agent Orange.
The deciding factor: The AOJ failed to consider whether the Veteran's present episodes of atrial fibrillation are etiologically related to his military service, including the atrial fibrillation he experienced while in the Army. The Marine Corps STRs document at least 2 separate episodes of atrial fibrillation during service.
- Claimed conditions
- atrial fibrillation
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 23, 2025
- Citation
- A25054096
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 appeal regarding the Veteran's entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for atrial fibrillation is remanded due to unclear evidence on whether continuous medication is required for its control.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for chronic kidney disease, atrial fibrillation, hiatal hernia, COPD, and prostate cancer as a result of toxic exposure during the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including tension headaches, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and a bilateral hearing loss disability. The Board also denied an initial compensable rating for the Veteran's headache disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for atrial fibrillation to obtain a medical opinion under the PACT Act regarding the possibility of a nexus between the claimed disability and in-service exposure to toxins.
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