Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and coronary artery disease due to inadequate compliance with prior remand instructions.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received with respect to the previously denied service connection claims for a right eye disorder, left eye disorder, and migraine disorder. The Veteran's heart disorder claim is also remanded due to procedural errors.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical opinions to address the etiology of the Veteran's eye condition, heart disorder, and scars.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and coronary artery disease are not warranted due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The claim for service connection for CAD is remanded as it requires an examination.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for ischemic heart disease due to a final denial in July 2013, and the claim was reopened based on new evidence submitted in December 2016. The effective date is set at December 2, 2015.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for ischemic heart disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The Board also requested an addendum opinion on the Veteran's audiologic examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for coronary artery disease was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a 60% or 100% disability rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition and Grave's disease due to potential herbicide exposure in Korea. The Veteran was stationed near the DMZ as an MP, and his statements and buddy statements support this claim. VA will provide medical examinations to determine if these conditions are related to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a heart disability, non-initial increased ratings for bilateral inguinal hernia residuals and nerve entrapments, and non-initial compensable ratings for left ilio-inguinal nerve entrapments. The decision is pending further adjudication.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left leg disability, ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, and neuroendocrine cancer, all of which were not found to be related to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's heart disorder, including whether it is related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted as service connected. The claims for toenail fungus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, a depressive disorder, and anxiety), neurobehavioral effects to the face, and heart disorder are remanded.

The Veteran is granted a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing due to his service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and gunshot wound residuals. He is denied a special home adaptation grant as he meets the criteria for specially adapted housing.

The appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for coronary artery disease, to an increased evaluation for depression, and to an effective date prior to November 28, 2006, for the grant of Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is dismissed. The issue of TDIU prior to November 28, 2006, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's heart conditions, as well as to address whether any of his service-connected disabilities or medications caused or aggravated these conditions. The claims for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, chronic kidney disease and chronic renal cysts, left wrist condition, and left hip arthritis remain denied.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease, finding that the conditions were not incurred in or related to service, including as due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and lumbar spine arthritis, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to herbicide agent exposure for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities. The Veteran's ship deck logs need to be obtained to verify his exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy are all denied service connection. The CAD is rated at 30 percent prior to September 3, 2018, and 100 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for depression due to additional development being necessary.