Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and remands the cases for further development, including a new examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected, and his head disability (TBI), neck disability, low back disability, heart disability, type 2 diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for coronary artery disease, both prior to and after March 24, 2018. The RO must comply with the January 15, 2019 Board remand directives.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's heart disability, specifically coronary artery disease. The examiner needs to provide a new opinion addressing whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s current heart disability is related to service, including exposure to contaminated water in Camp Lejeune and documented complaints of heart/chest pains during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's preexisting rheumatic fever was aggravated by his military service, and if so, whether it is at least as likely as not that the valvular heart disease manifested in service or is otherwise causally related to his military service.

All claims for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the lack of an adequate substantive appeal.

The Court reversed the Board's decision, finding that service connection for ischemic heart disease is warranted due to exposure to contaminated waters within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam. The Veteran's ship was less than this distance from the shore.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and back disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding exposure to herbicide agents and asbestos.,For ischemic heart disease and hypertension, the Board finds that there is a possibility of in-service exposure to herbicide agents. For the back disorder, the Veteran's claim will be considered based on his reported in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.,A TDIU claim is also on appeal, as it was raised during the period when the IHD rating claim was pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and heart disease, claimed as coronary artery disease, have been granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active service.,Service connection is established for both conditions based on the presumption of exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of prostate cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and coronary artery arteriosclerosis associated with herbicide exposure at Korat RTAFB in Thailand.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for ischemic heart disease and central retinal artery occlusion have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardiomyopathy, finding that the Veteran's heart issues are not associated with ischemia and do not meet the criteria for direct or presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for vision problems is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a vision disability.,The Board has also determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for neuropathy, coronary artery disease, sleep condition (likely sleep apnea), headache condition, and psychiatric disability (PTSD) are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, including coronary artery disease, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service onset or relationship to military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary heart condition as secondary to his service-connected hypertension. However, it denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cerebral ischemic attack as secondary to his service-connected sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, sciatica of the right and left lower extremity, and osteoarthritis of the lower back secondary to service-connected conditions due to Agent Orange exposure. The issues are inextricably intertwined as they all relate to the Veteran's service-connected left knee condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for breast cancer, heart condition, and lymphedema. The decision found that there was no evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and her military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder as a result of exposure to herbicide agents, finding that there was no evidence linking his current heart problems to his military service or presumed exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is granted. The claim for skin disorder is denied.