The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for his heart disorder is being remanded due to a duty to assist error, and a retrospective medical opinion is needed to assess the severity of his condition during the relevant time periods.
The deciding factor: There was an error in assigning disability ratings prior to February 22, 2022, which requires a retrospective review by a clinician.
- Claimed conditions
- Coronary artery bypass graft, Unstable angina with percutaneous coronary intervention with stent
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 2, 2026
- Citation
- A26000204
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A26000204.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease, DEA benefits, and SMC due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his original claims and the subsequent granting of a supplemental claim.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a rating higher than 60 percent for the Veteran's heart disabilities and granted service connection for major vascular neurocognitive disorder, but denied special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l).
- Granted
The Board granted eligibility to attorney fees based on the past-due benefits awarded in the January 2024 rating decision.
- Granted
The Board granted a 30 percent disability rating for the Veteran's heart condition effective May 1, 2024.
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