Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's heart condition was not caused or aggravated by VA care, resulting in denial of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.,The Veteran does not have a service-connected disability that renders him unemployable, leading to dismissal of his TDIU claim.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension but has remanded the issue of service connection for heart disability, as no VA examiner has provided an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's heart disability is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for diabetes mellitus, type II, a skin disability claimed as skin condition of the back, and atrial fibrillation claimed as ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including major depressive disorder, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and coronary artery disease, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. His claim for service connection for coronary artery disease is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Thailand.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess his current coronary artery disease, including exercise testing if medically necessary.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to new evidence of worsening conditions, including heart conditions, diabetes mellitus, and diabetic nephropathy. The claims are being returned for further examination and evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition and multiple myeloma, finding that there is no current disability or evidence of a causal relationship to service. The claim for multiple myeloma was also not granted on a presumptive basis.

The Board has remanded all issues due to the failure of the AOJ to provide proper notice to the appellant's representative regarding a June 2016 rating decision. The CUE claim should be resolved prior to resolving the new and material evidence claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to service, secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD), or aggravated by CAD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened, and he is now entitled to an initial rating of 20 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity prior to December 17, 2008. The effective date for his service-connected atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease remains October 28, 2002.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that they preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and heart disease, as these conditions are alleged to be related to herbicide exposure during service. The claims will be reviewed again with additional development.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is granted service connection. The heart disorder claim, including as due to herbicide exposure, and the PTSD rating and TDIU claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has ordered a remand for an addendum opinion regarding the impact of the Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease and hypertension on his ability to work. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of heart disease, including surgeries, stents and a pacemaker, has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, acquired psychiatric disability (depressive disorder and insomnia), and denied service connection for tinnitus. The effective date remains October 28, 2009.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy. The remaining claims for hearing loss, anemia, bleeding ulcer, heart condition, PTSD, hypertension, and TDIU are also pending.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions and TDIU has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these issues.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent effective July 24, 2012. The claim for service connection of ischemic heart disease has been stayed.