Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for aortic regurgitation (heart disorder) and skin disorder/bruising, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service disease or injury superimposed on his congenital heart condition, and that his skin disorder is not caused by a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and coronary artery bypass graft because new evidence did not establish a link to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability has been reopened and is granted. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim.,Service connection for COPD was not established, as there is no current diagnosis of COPD in the record.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Parkinson's disease and related symptoms, have resulted in a loss of use of one lower extremity (left) due to the need for regular and constant use of assistive devices such as a wheeled walker and electronic wheelchair/scooter. This has led to a permanent and total disability rating, qualifying him for specially adapted housing benefits.

The Veteran's appeal for PTSD was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claim.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease and disc disease of the neck / cervical spine, anxiety disorder, cephalgia, bilateral hearing loss, heart disability, pulmonary disability, and stroke pathology/_residuals were granted.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, finding that the Veteran did not have ischemic heart disease and his heart disorders are not related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's account of when he had a myocardial infarction, and for an addendum from a VA examiner to review records and determine if this occurred on September 18, 2003.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of rheumatic fever and hypertension/hypertensive heart disease due to inadequate examination reports by a family medicine physician, Dr. N.E.G., who did not provide sufficient clarity on the etiology and pathogenesis of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has not fully addressed the service connection for a heart disability, as requested in previous remands. The case is being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, left leg muscle conditions (RSD syndrome and CRPS), recurring prostatitis, and oligospermia are all granted service connection. Heart disease is denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or presumptive exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease was granted based on presumptive exposure to herbicides. The effective date of this grant is set at August 31, 2010, as the earliest date that ischemic heart disease was added to the list of diseases presumed due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a posthumous VA examination, and requests that a medical opinion be obtained regarding whether the Veteran's heart disability is related to his presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development, including verification of Agent Orange exposure and VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder was granted, and he was also awarded a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The increase in the ratings for his low back disability from 10 to 20 percent as of February 20, 2008, and then to 40 percent since January 28, 2010, was granted. His claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disorder was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a heart disability, due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's claims of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for CAD prior to October 28, 2019, and service connection for bilateral lower extremity PVD are being remanded due to the need for additional development including rescheduling examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death certificate shows he died from coronary artery disease due to congestive heart failure. The Veteran had symptoms associated with coronary artery disease and was diagnosed with angina while on active duty for training in the Army National Guard. Post-service records also show continued symptoms of coronary artery disease. For these reasons, and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, the Board finds that his coronary artery disease is directly connected to events in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and nonobstructive coronary artery disease, have prevented him from securing and maintaining gainful employment since February 1, 2013. The Board has granted a TDIU rating for this period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, including ischemic heart disease (IHD), coronary artery disease, and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service herbicide exposure or a diagnosis of IHD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to April 7, 2010 do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.