Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded two issues: the first is to determine if the Veteran's current symptoms of coronary artery disease warrant a higher initial rating, and the second is to determine if he incurred additional disabilities due to his heart surgery at VA facilities. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the specific conditions and their relationship to military service are not specified in this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease due to exposure to herbicide agents, and an initial rating of 70% for PTSD. The appeal is remanded for further action on the remaining issues.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his claimed aortic aneurysm.,A VA examination is required to determine the etiology of the Veteran's abdominal aortic aneurysm, including whether it is related to service or any other relevant factors.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The Board is remanding these issues for further development.,The Veteran's heart condition claim remains unresolved as there is no current diagnosis provided by a VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during service, and further guidance from the Secretary is needed before making a determination on the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability, initial compensable rating for eczema prior to March 29, 2018, and higher initial ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with separate 10 percent ratings assigned for radiculopathy of both the right and left lower extremities are remanded due to inadequate examination reports and need for further medical opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for colon cancer, PTSD, a heart disability, and hypertension due to Agent Orange exposure. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed all appeals seeking service connection for various conditions as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder, including atrial fibrillation, should be remanded due to outstanding VA and private treatment records not being associated with the claims file.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for supraventricular arrhythmia is granted at a 30 percent level. The increased disability rating for ischemic coronary artery disease from September 1, 2012 to September 9, 2018 is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents for heart disability, neuropathy, and diabetes mellitus type II. The records from Dr. A.P., Norwood Clinic in Gardendale, Arizona, and any other care providers who may have treated the Veteran need to be obtained.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected hypertension aggravated his residuals of triple bypass surgery, including CAD.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, but the issues of increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction associated with diabetes mellitus, as well as TDIU based on service-connected disabilities, are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and a compensable rating for tinea pedis. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a finding of in-service exposure to asbestos or herbicide agents, and concluded that the current diagnoses were not related to service.

The Board has denied an initial rating in excess of 60 percent for coronary artery disease prior to July 14, 2009 and has remanded the issue of a rating in excess of 30 percent for coronary artery disease from July 14, 2009 onward. The appeal is currently pending due to incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including ischemic heart disease and peripheral neuropathy, are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records. The claim for diabetes mellitus is reopened.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) is rated at 100 percent since July 24, 2016. The Board denied a higher rating as the evidence did not show that his disability warranted an increase in severity beyond what was already assigned.

The claim for service connection for a respiratory disability has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The heart disability claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis. The psychosis or mental illness claim for treatment purposes is also denied. The SMP based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability, heart disability, and psychosis are reopened due to new evidence. However, the heart disability claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis. The psychosis claim is denied as there is no evidence of an active psychosis within two years of discharge. The SMP based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status is also denied.

The Veteran's IHD was rated at 100% effective March 5, 2020.,Prior to November 20, 2015, the Veteran’s IHD did not meet criteria for a higher rating.