Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his heart disability prior to July 30, 2019 was denied as the evidence did not show more than one episode of acute congestive heart failure or workload of greater than 3 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for heart disability, pulmonary embolism residuals, erectile dysfunction, cervical spine disability, and upper extremity radiculopathy due to incomplete evaluations and lack of opinions on service connection.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was granted. However, the claim for service connection itself remains denied due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss. The claims for increased ratings for ischemic heart disease, left hand disability, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, and PTSD are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease prior to August 26, 2016 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an evaluation higher than 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including obtaining private medical records related to his bilateral knee surgeries.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from September 19, 2014 to July 17, 2017 due to service-connected disabilities. The appeal for TDIU from July 17, 2017 is dismissed as lacking legal merit.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding an earlier effective date for his right hip disability rating. The claims of service connection for hypertension, heart disability, sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disorder, and acid reflux have been reopened due to new evidence received since previous decisions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequacies in the February 2017 VA medical opinion, which did not address direct service connection or the aggravation prong of secondary service connection. The Veteran's heart conditions are being reviewed for potential service connection.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD) has been rated at 60 percent since August 2012. The Board granted a 100 percent rating for CAD effective February 4, 2020, based on the evidence showing that the Veteran experiences dyspnea, fatigue, angina, and dizziness with a workload of three METs or less.

The Veteran's claims for cervical-spine disorder, bilateral-hand disorder, bilateral-shoulder disorder, lumbar-spine disorder, bilateral-leg disorder, CAD, shortness of breath, hypertension, and bilateral-foot disorder have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, these claims are still denied as there is no direct or secondary service connection established.,The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, has also been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, this claim is still denied as there is no direct service connection established.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, vestibular disorder, splenomegaly, and heart disability have been denied as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to his service-connected Lyme disease.

The Board denied service connection for costochondritis and a heart condition, finding that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of these conditions and that they are not related to his active duty service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a heart condition due to new and material evidence received since the September 1983 VA administrative decision. The case is now remanded for further development, including an examination by a clinician.

The Veteran's death was caused by ischemic heart disease, which is presumed to be due to his service-connected exposure to Agent Orange. The Board granted the claim for cause of death and denied DIC benefits under section 1318.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the August 2018 medical expert opinion, which did not adequately address whether the Veteran's ischemic heart disease was a contributory cause of his death. The VA examiner is asked to provide an addendum opinion on this issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for ischemic heart disease and TDIU due to service-connected ischemic heart disease, as further development is needed. The claims will be returned to the AOJ for additional action.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including headaches, vertigo, nose bleeds, chronic fatigue syndrome, left elbow joint pain, left knee joint pain, a heart condition, and gastrointestinal disability. The issues are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran has a qualified chronic disability as defined under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection of a right pelvic condition.,Prior to February 8, 2016, the Veteran's CAD was rated at 10 percent. From February 8, 2016 to November 21, 2016, it was rated at 30 percent. Beginning November 22, 2016, a 60 percent rating was granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's heart disability and acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, cannot be linked to his service. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to obtain medical opinions regarding the Veteran's death, including whether his psychiatric disorder was related to service and if VA treatment hastened his death.