Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's cause of death was not due to or related to his active service, and the Board denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease claims are remanded for further examination and clarification.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and effective date determination due to new evidence added by VA, as well as issues regarding his thoracolumbar spine condition(s), left shoulder condition(s), bilateral hand condition(s), and heart condition(s).

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for coronary artery disease has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities was granted.

The Veteran's daughter is denied accrued benefits and a month-of-death payment as she did not provide evidence of unreimbursed expenses related to her father's last sickness or burial.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is currently rated at 60 percent from June 1, 2015. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating during this period.

The Board dismissed the appeals as the Veteran died before a decision could be made.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 30 percent for coronary artery disease prior to March 26, 2009 and a 100 percent rating from September 16, 2016. The claim for hypertension is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Veteran has withdrawn his increased rating claims for coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes mellitus type II.,The Veteran has withdrawn his earlier effective date claim for tinnitus. The AOJ will issue a SOC regarding the service connection claims for arthritis.,The Veteran's loss of teeth is remanded due to lack of an adequate VA examination, as well as the need for clarification on carcinogen exposure and further development of the record.,PTSD symptoms are remanded for a new VA examination to determine their current severity and impact on employment.,TDIU claim is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with other claims.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, type II diabetes mellitus, squamous cell carcinoma of the left upper lung, and cellulitis (also diagnosed as necrobiosis lipoidica) on a substitution basis due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active military service.

The Veteran's heart disease, specifically coronary artery disease, is granted as service connected because it was caused by his untreated hyperlipidemia during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have significantly impacted his ability to work, leading the Board to grant a TDIU for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the dorsal spine is rated at 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board finds that there is no evidence to support a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, a left leg condition secondary to ischemic heart disease, and hypertension. The Board found that the veteran did not have active duty service or periods of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA during which these conditions could be considered incurred in the line of duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of necessary medical records and an incomplete VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death in a motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantial and gainful employment prior to September 12, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a patent ductus arteriosus is reopened. A rating of 70 percent for PTSD is granted, and an initial 10 percent rating for vasovagal syncope is granted. The Board has remanded the issues regarding brain injury and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the etiology of the Veteran's heart disability, specifically her transient ischemic attacks (TIA). The examiner is asked to determine if the Veteran’s heart disability is at least as likely as not related to her period of service.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's heart disorders are related to his military service, including stress as an Air Traffic Control Operator and chest pain in 1965.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 9, 2007 for the award of a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected heart disability. The decision is based on factual evidence that the Veteran was unable to maintain gainful employment by reason of his service-connected disabilities as of April 9, 2007.