The Board has determined that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error and the case is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated his tobacco use, which in turn led to his heart condition.
The deciding factor: The decision on appeal involves a secondary service connection theory based on the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) causing or aggravating his tobacco use and subsequent heart condition.
- Claimed conditions
- coronary artery disease (heart disease)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 2, 2026
- Citation
- A26030175
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 A26030175.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple joint arthritis, heart disease, and memory loss. The Veteran's claims were not supported by sufficient evidence of in-service injury or disease.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's kidney disease claim has been reopened and granted. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of this claim.,Service connection for COPD, heart disease, ED, tinea pedis (toe fungus), right leg disability, and left leg disability have all been denied due to lack of in-service exposure or a link between service and these conditions.
- Denied
The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes, low back pain, sinusitis, hypertension, GERD, painful lower extremities/myalgias, coronary artery disease (heart disease), flu virus, group C virus, adenovirus, skin disability, and right kidney disability have all been denied as not related to service or service-connected conditions.,The claim for a higher initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals, fractures, right toes has been remanded.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
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