Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's initial evaluation for his service-connected coronary artery disease status post coronary bypass graft is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his left foot condition, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy. The claims for increased ratings are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, including as due to exposure to herbicides, is denied. The Board found that the Veteran was not exposed to herbicides during his military service and did not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to insufficient medical evidence of his functional impairments prior to October 8, 2015. The case will be reviewed after obtaining additional information and opinions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection for a respiratory disorder and coronary artery disease should be remanded due to lack of proper examinations and consideration.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted, and his heart condition and hearing loss claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea but has remanded the heart disorder claim due to missing records and further examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, kidney cancer, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus, type II are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease was denied as the earliest possible effective date is July 24, 2009.

The Veteran's CAD, with associated conditions like unstable angina and hypertensive heart disease, was rated at 60 percent from July 29, 2015 to November 5, 2015. The rating was granted as the evidence showed more than one episode of acute congestive heart failure in a year or workload greater than three METs resulting in dyspnea and fatigue.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease is being remanded for a new examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran was unable to maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected disabilities for the period prior to September 16, 2015. The Board found that the combined effect of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities is of sufficient severity to have rendered him unable to obtain and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and residuals of stroke, both secondary to his service-connected duodenal ulcer disability. The evidence did not show an in-service injury or disease that caused these conditions, nor was there any causal relationship established between them.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease status post coronary artery bypass graft stroke is being remanded due to unclear military personnel records and the need to determine if VA met its duty to assist.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability prior to January 6, 2011 is being remanded due to the need for extraschedular consideration.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, polyneuropathy of the lower extremities, and dementia, as they are not related to military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease is currently rated at 60 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has granted service connection for heart disease (including myocardial infarction) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The decision is based on medical evidence that suggests PTSD may have contributed to the Veteran's acute myocardial infarction in 2009.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and ulcers due to lack of evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the increased rating for his coronary artery disease, leaving no issues to be decided by the Board.