The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and needs additional clarification on whether there was an increase in severity of the Veteran's pre-existing heart disability during service.
The deciding factor: The decision is based on a duty-to-assist error where the VA medical opinion did not address the relevant inquiry for a pre-existing condition with respect to the Veteran's heart disability.
- Claimed conditions
- left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH)
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 22, 2026
- Citation
- A26006158
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 A26006158.
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
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for atrial fibrillation, supraventricular arrhythmia, left ventricular hypertrophy, and bilateral hearing loss as the conditions were not incurred during or attributable to active service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's heart condition, specifically left ventricular hypertrophy with reduced ejection fraction.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claims for service connection for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and keratoconus. The claims are being remanded for further review due to new evidence submitted after previous denials.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for a cardiac disability, including conflicting VA memorandums on herbicide exposure and inadequate VA examinations. The examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion addressing these issues.
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