Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Board has not fully considered the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, claimed as a heart murmur. The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum opinion from the VA examiner who conducted the October 2019 VA examination.

The Veteran's larynx cancer and ischemic heart disease are granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder and hypertension, as well as an initial rating higher than 20 percent for the service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2. The Veteran was not granted any of these claims.

The Veteran's effective date for additional dependency compensation for his spouse is denied as the evidence was received more than a year after notification of his qualifying disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board finds new and material evidence has been submitted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, heart condition, diabetes mellitus, sinus disability, left leg disability, and eye disability are remanded due to outstanding records.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of response from VA regarding the competency challenge and request for curriculum vitae of the May 2018 VA examiner. The Veteran's TDIU claim is now pending again.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further medical evaluation and opinion regarding the service connection of hypertension, as well as its relationship to other conditions like diabetes mellitus, PTSD, and coronary artery disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease is related to his active service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to herbicides and a need for further medical evaluation of his psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his hypertensive heart disease and other contributing conditions were not related to his military service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations and unclear notification of examination schedules.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction secondary to ischemic heart disease, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are remanded.

The Veteran's SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(r)(1) is granted with an effective date of February 15, 2013.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disorder, shoulder disorder, and skin disorder due to inadequate medical opinions in the original decision. The Veteran will need further examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and polyps of the esophagus are remanded due to new evidence supporting his exposure during service.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction with stent placement. The TDIU claim was dismissed as the Veteran is already receiving a maximum schedular rating.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and the Board denied claims for increased pension benefits and accrued benefits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cardiovascular and left shoulder conditions due to insufficient information regarding in-service radiation exposure and potential secondary service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for elevated cholesterol. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, heart disorder, and headaches have been remanded.

The Board has determined that new VA opinions are needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, heart disability, chronic kidney disease/renal insufficiency, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and loss of use of a creative organ. The case is being remanded for these purposes.