The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a respiratory disability and diabetes mellitus, type II (DM) due to duty-to-assist errors. The claims are inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim.
The deciding factor: There were duty-to-assist errors in obtaining an adequate medical examination and opinion prior to adjudication.
- Claimed conditions
- Hypertensive Heart Disease, Respiratory Disability (Sarcoidosis), Diabetes Mellitus, Type II (DM)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 18, 2026
- Citation
- A26024604
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 A26024604.
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 CAD warrants a 60 percent rating, but the Board has determined that an earlier effective date is warranted due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding direct service connection.
- Granted
The Board granted a 30 percent rating for coronary heart disease effective February 10, 2021. The Veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date or increased rating.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted SMC at the rate of 50% for his service-connected conditions from April 20, 2020 to June 7, 2021.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for service-connected erectile dysfunction was granted. The claim for an increased rating in excess of 60 percent disabling for service-connected hypertensive heart disease prior to March 31, 2023 was denied.
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