Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition and sleep disorder is partially granted, with the heart condition reopened. The appeal regarding the sleep disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a left knee condition is granted.,Entitlement to service connection for hypercholesterolemia is denied. The Board finds that high cholesterol is not a disability for which VA compensation benefits are payable.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and unclear diagnosis of the Veteran's heart condition. The Veteran needs to provide any available private treatment records, and a VA examination is needed to determine if he currently has a heart condition related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and coronary artery disease (CAD) due to their inextricability with the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The VA is required to obtain addendum opinions if service connection for any psychiatric disability is granted.

The Veteran's atrial fibrillation is related to in-service chest pain and granted service connection.,The Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents while serving at Udorn Royal Air Force Base, Thailand. His coronary artery disease with old myocardial infarction is presumed due to this exposure and granted service connection.,The Veteran's Meniere’s disease with vertigo is related to service and/or his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus and granted service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following gainful employment prior to September 18, 2018.

The Veteran's heart condition, which included coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction, was rated at 60 percent since December 1, 2012. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating as his METs were greater than 3, he had no episodes of chronic congestive heart failure, and his left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was above 30%. Therefore, the claim for an increased rating was denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of reopening his previously denied atrial fibrillation service connection is remanded for additional development, including obtaining an opinion on whether he had arteriosclerosis or ischemic heart disease related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease (ischemic heart disease) is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his time stationed at Thai air bases.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the evidence regarding whether the Veteran had arteriosclerotic heart disease (ASHD) and its severity during the appeal period. The issues of TDIU and DEA benefits are also being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the ASHD issue.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and bilateral lower extremity peripheral vascular disease due to exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's assertions of exposure in Guam need further verification, and VA examinations are required to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to be associated with herbicide exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a heart disorder was granted. Service connection for COPD, right upper extremity numbness and tingling, left upper extremity numbness and tingling, right lower extremity numbness and tingling, and left lower extremity numbness and tingling were denied.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his ED, CAD, and DMII as he withdrew his appeal during a videoconference hearing.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of a heart disability separate from cardiac arrhythmia due to inadequate previous VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD) due to Agent Orange exposure, allowing retroactive benefits under Nehmer v. United States Veterans Admin.

The Veteran's heart disability is rated at a 60 percent rating prior to January 4, 2016 and denied for any higher ratings thereafter. The appeal does not involve service connection issues.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of hypertension, vascular disease, and heart condition for further examination and opinion as there is uncertainty about their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records. The TDIU claim is denied as the Veteran is currently employed full-time.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 60 percent for coronary artery disease from September 1, 2013 is being remanded due to the addition of new evidence and a need for further examination.