Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for right ankle disorder, cervical spine disorder, and back disorder (claimed as a back disorder) due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear diagnoses and a need for further examination regarding the Veteran's heart conditions, particularly ischemic heart disease associated with herbicide exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining records from a VA physician and providing an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hypertension and heart disability, specifically whether they are related to service or his diabetes.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and coronary artery disease, status post coronary artery bypass graft, are granted. The Veteran's hypertension is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70% rating from September 28, 2015 to June 8, 2016. The claim for an increased rating in excess of 50% prior to September 28, 2015 and the claim for TDIU prior to June 9, 2016 are both remanded.,The Veteran's coronary artery disease was granted a 30% rating prior to June 7, 2019 and a 60% rating on and thereafter. The claim for TDIU prior to June 9, 2016 is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher initial rating for coronary artery disease and service connection for chronic depression and memory loss due to incomplete consideration of his claims, including failure to provide an adequate statement of the case (SOC) and insufficient METs testing.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The hearing loss case is remanded as the Veteran testified that his hearing loss has worsened since the last evaluation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and prostate disorder, all of which are secondary to herbicide exposure. The case is remanded for further development including obtaining VA examinations and verifying herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and heart condition, finding that the Veteran's conditions were more likely due to his smoking history rather than service. The Board also denied special monthly pension benefits as the Veteran did not require aid and attendance or meet the criteria for housebound status.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus and its secondary disabilities due to incomplete records, inadequate VA examination, and in-service evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected ischemic heart disease with stable angina is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal regarding whether there was clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in a January 2004 rating decision that reopened and denied his service connection claim for congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and coronary artery disease with coronary artery bypass graft as secondary to bronchitis. The Board also denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, unstable angina, congestive heart failure, supraventricular arrhythmia, and implanted automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator. The appeal was denied as there was no CUE in the January 2004 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), back condition, and right shoulder disability has been reopened. The heart condition claim was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The TDIU claim is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and a heart condition due to new evidence received by the Veteran. The effective dates of compensation for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and persistent depressive disorder remain denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for coronary artery disease and Parkinson’s disease due to a lack of verification of his claimed Vietnam service. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to verify the Veteran's reported TDY service in Vietnam, including by contacting the Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) or other appropriate repositories.

The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to coronary arteriosclerotic heart disease, which the Board found not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing onset in service or within one year post-service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to incomplete examinations, lack of clear and unmistakable evidence regarding preexisting conditions, and need for additional medical opinions. The issues include bilateral gynecomastia, a chest scar related to bilateral gynecomastia, a right shoulder disability, heart disability, hypertension, and TDIU.

The Veteran's service connection claim for ischemic heart disease is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand, which is presumed for Vietnam-era veterans.