Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and heart conditions, specifically whether they are related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for ischemic heart disease and TDIU prior to June 4, 2010 due to a lack of METs data from September 2006 to August 2010. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records and obtain a retrospective medical opinion regarding their MET levels.

The claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death was reopened and granted. However, the claim for 38 U.S.C. § 1151 benefits was denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to increased ratings for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The decision is based on a lack of VA treatment records from August 2010 forward.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, including as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back disability. The claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease and atrial fibrillation is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether his atrial fibrillation could be related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease and Parkinson’s disease, are so severe that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. As his combined disability rating is at least 70%, the Board has granted a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's spouse was awarded additional compensation for a dependent spouse effective October 14, 2014, due to the VA representative not being aware of the improper benefit amount.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to incomplete examination and medical opinions regarding cardiovascular disabilities, including hypertension. The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are now pending again.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the Board denied DIC benefits for cause of death, survivors' pension benefits, and accrued benefits due to lack of timely claims.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is being remanded for further development to determine if he was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Okinawa, Japan.

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

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a heart disorder and hypertension due to potential aggravation by the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, fibrous dysplasia of bone, and a disability manifested by shortness of breath are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hypertension diagnosis is related to his active military service, and therefore grants service connection for hypertension as secondary to atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease (CAD) are being remanded as the effective dates have not been established.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also being remanded due to its inextricability with the above issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's AV block is related to service or service-connected disability. The VA examiner will need to provide an addendum opinion addressing these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity that they prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board has determined that he meets the criteria for a TDIU effective November 3, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including left knee disability, right knee disability, heart condition, right wrist disability, and right toe disability. The Veteran is to be scheduled for VA examinations in order to determine if his current disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected cirrhosis of the liver materially contributed to his death from probable vascular dementia, coronary artery disease, and atherosclerosis. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death.