The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected PTSD and his claimed heart condition.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error in failing to obtain a VA medical opinion addressing the Veteran's theory of secondary service connection for his heart condition due to his service-connected PTSD.
- Claimed conditions
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type II, Cardiomyopathy Arrhythmia with Implanted Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 9, 2026
- Citation
- A26011814
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 A26011814.
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 service-connected PTSD alone is sufficient to grant a TDIU, and his other service-connected disabilities are at least 60% combined. The Veteran also meets the criteria for SMC based on housebound status.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations and effective dates have been denied. The Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are currently rated at 60 percent, 20 percent, and varying percentages respectively.
- Granted
The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, which render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, finding that the condition first manifested during military service and is related to in-service glycosuria.
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