The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, and will consider service connection for heart disorders based on direct evidence or secondary to hypertension.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not address the etiology of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and left ventricular hypertrophy, nor provide an opinion regarding secondary service connection for hypertension. The case is remanded to obtain a new opinion addressing these matters.
- Claimed conditions
- heart disorder (murmur), hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, left ventricular hypertrophy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 21, 2026
- Citation
- A26037284
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 A26037284.
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 Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ventricular hypertrophy and Fabry's disease as secondary to his service-connected hypertension.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to errors in obtaining relevant private treatment records and VA opinions, which were not sufficient for a decision on service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for left ventricular hypertrophy and service connection for sinus bradycardia are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for colorectal cancer, TDIU determination, and eligibility for DEA benefits were all denied due to the lack of evidence linking his conditions to his active service.
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