Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease and PTSD, rendered him unable to maintain gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and coronary artery disease, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. As a result, he is granted a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and heart disease, secondary to sleep apnea, are denied as the evidence does not support a relationship between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right knee disability, low back disability, headaches, left knee disability, sinus condition, and heart disability (left ventricular hypertrophy). The decision also notes that updated VA treatment records are needed.

The Veteran's heart disability, which includes coronary artery disease (CAD), has been rated at 30 percent since July 24, 2012. The Board denied an evaluation in excess of this rating.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on four conditions (bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, coronary artery disease, and congestive heart failure) have been dismissed due to the appellant withdrawing his appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's cause of death is related to his service, specifically his diagnosed heart murmur. The VA needs to obtain a records review and medical opinion from an appropriate specialist.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a medical opinion to determine if his rheumatic valvulitis preexisted service and was not aggravated by service, and whether he currently has a heart disorder attributable to service.

The Board has denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for abnormal heart condition, anxiety disorder, chest pain, fatigue, and nonspecific infection as there is no evidence showing that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are the result of VA medical or educational services.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for a right-hand nerve injury is denied.,The claim of entitlement to service connection for a heart disorder is remanded.,The claims of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities are remanded.,The claim of entitlement to service connection for fibromyalgia is remanded.,The claims of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disorder and for a right shoulder disorder are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional development. The issues include respiratory disorder, seizures, CAD secondary to PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability and prostate cancer, finding insufficient evidence to link these conditions to the Veteran's military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for coronary artery disease, including whether it is related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease is denied as the earliest date of receipt of a formal or informal claim was February 6, 2006. The Veteran's appeal for total disability based on individual unemployability prior to March 29, 2012 is also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical radiculopathy in the right and left upper extremities, as well as lumbar radiculopathy in the right lower extremity, all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected cervical spondylosis and lumbar spondylosis. Service connection for asymptomatic coronary artery disease was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation before November 20, 2015.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection of ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure, and remanded the issue of a higher rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory, skin, and heart disabilities are being remanded due to incomplete development of his exposure history at Dugway Proving Ground.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II. The claims for increased evaluations and effective dates are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for lung and heart conditions due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. Specifically, a VA examination is required to determine if any current lung or heart condition is related to service.