Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's heart disorders are related to service and/or caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The VA must obtain a new opinion on these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's ATTR amyloidosis is a form of AL amyloidosis, if it is caused by herbicide exposure, and if it is proximately caused or aggravated by ischemic heart disease/coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of April 3, 2012. The Board granted his claim for TDIU effective from April 2, 2013.

The Board has denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and remanded the issue of service connection for restrictive pericarditis due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for coronary artery disease is remanded due to a lack of recent VA examination. The Veteran testified that his symptoms have worsened and requested another VA examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of February 28, 2012. The decision was based on the fact that the Veteran stopped working due to service-connected disabilities starting from this date.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for the cause of death due to insufficient information regarding exposure to herbicides or radiation. The appellant's claim for accrued benefits and non-service-connected death pension benefits is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a heart condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension due to lack of medical evidence supporting a current diagnosis and no indication of a hypertensive heart disease.

The Veteran's ischemic CAD with stent placements was rated at 60 percent prior to August 24, 2016. From August 24, 2016, the rating was increased to 100 percent.

The Board denied claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, a heart condition including coronary artery disease and/or residual of myocardial infarction, and hypertension. The Veteran's claims were remanded for further development regarding degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's coronary artery disease rating from 60% to 30% was proper based on improvement in his disability symptomology as evidenced by improved left ventricular ejection fraction and an improved METs level.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral eye disorder, heart disorder, increased rating for low back disability, and TDIU due to outstanding records not being obtained. The Veteran is also requested to provide private treatment records dated December 18, 2008, September 6, 2011, and September 8, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for myocardial infarction was denied, and the Board found that the earliest possible effective date is December 22, 2015.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral eye disability, heart disability, kidney disability, diabetes mellitus, stroke residuals, memory loss, and blackouts and seizures, all claimed as related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or were otherwise linked to the Veteran's time in active duty.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease was denied prior to December 22, 2017. From that date onwards, the Veteran received a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection and higher ratings for various disabilities, including tinnitus, a heart condition, bilateral hearing loss, right lumbar radiculopathy, right hip disability, major depressive disorder, neck disability, low back disability, and right knee disability. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address these issues.,The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his service-connected disabilities, including tinnitus and heart condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to determine his eligibility for TDIU and SMC based on the need of regular aid and attendance or housebound status, as well as to clarify whether he has been employed in a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have permanently aggravated his hypertension, resulting in service connection for the condition.,The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and hypertension are found to have permanently aggravated his residuals of a stroke, resulting in service connection for the condition.,The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and hypertension are found to have permanently aggravated his heart disability, resulting in service connection for the condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to July 16, 2013 for service connection of coronary artery disease/left heart catheterization and associated scars.