The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of coronary artery disease (CAD) is being remanded due to a duty to assist error regarding the November 2021 echocardiogram and whether dyspnea can be attributed to CAD.
The deciding factor: There was a pre-decisional duty to assist error in determining the severity of CAD during the period on appeal, specifically regarding the November 2021 echocardiogram and attribution of symptoms like dyspnea.
- Claimed conditions
- coronary artery disease (CAD), myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 27, 2026
- Citation
- A26018138
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 A26018138.
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 Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his coronary artery disease.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction is granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in Korea.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus type II (DM II), hypertension, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected DM II. The Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during active service is presumed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for coronary artery disease and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The decision is pending further action as private treatment records are needed.
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