Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed before a decision can be made on these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to engage and retain substantially gainful employment, resulting in a grant of TDIU.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including evaluating the nature of the Veteran's psychiatric disability under DSM-V criteria and determining whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service stressor. The heart disease claim is also remanded due to its interdependence with the chest pain claim.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is caused by his service-connected hypertension, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition as secondary to his hypertension.

Service connection for a heart condition, claimed as arrhythmia and flutter, is denied.,Service connection for insomnia is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's nonobstructive coronary artery disease is related to his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the etiology of the appellant's heart disorder. The examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether the heart disorders are congenital defects or diseases, and if they were aggravated by service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right hip disability, ischemic heart disease (due to herbicide agent exposure), and erectile dysfunction as secondary to ischemic heart disease due to incomplete medical records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain any necessary treatment records and readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease is rated at 100 percent, which satisfies the criteria for a total disability rating. As a result, the issue of unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities has been dismissed.

The Veteran's initial rating for old myocardial infarction and CAD is denied, as the condition does not meet criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran's PTSD with depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances is also denied, as it does not meet criteria for a 70% rating. Appeals for service connection for back injury, high cholesterol, hypertension, and esophageal condition have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for melanoma, pleural plaques, and sinus disability have been dismissed.,The Veteran has had his claim for an effective date of November 25, 2009, for systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) granted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a heart disorder, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea due to inadequate reasons or bases in the previous decision.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an independent medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran experienced additional disability as a result of treatment or lack thereof at the Reno VA Medical Center on March 26, 2015. The opinion should address if this resulted in any new disability and if so, whether it was due to carelessness, negligence, or other fault on the part of VA.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The case is REMANDED to obtain private medical records, schedule a VA examination, and readjudicate the claims.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, attributing it to ischemic heart disease and systemic atherosclerosis, which are presumed to be caused by exposure to herbicides during military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for DMII, a heart disability, an eye disability, and a right knee disability due to incomplete opinions regarding preexisting conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of increased evaluations for PTSD and IHD, as well as the TDIU claim due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran needs a new VA examination for both conditions.