The Board has determined that there were duty to assist errors and remands the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and an adequate VA medical opinion.
The deciding factor: There are outstanding, relevant private treatment records that have not been considered in the decision. Additionally, the VA opinions provided by the June 2023, March 2024, October 2024, and November 2024 VA examiners were based on an incomplete evidentiary record.
- Claimed conditions
- aortic stenosis, mitral valve insufficiency, bronchial inflammation, renal disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 7, 2026
- Citation
- A26001634
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A26001634.
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 Veteran's cause of death, which included atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, is presumed to be related to herbicide agent exposure during service at Fort McClellan. The Board granted the claim for service connection for the cause of death.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for aortic insufficiency, aortic stenosis and congestive heart failure, and carotid artery disease. The conditions are related to in-service exposure to toxic substances and stress.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease/aortic stenosis status post aortic valve replacement was improper, and thus restored the original grant of service connection.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease and aortic stenosis, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether his current heart issues are related to his in-service diving. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
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