Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a heart disability, thyroid disability, diabetes mellitus, bone loss, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder. The Veteran will be provided an SSOC if their benefits are not granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's conditions, including CAD, hypertension, kidney/renal disorders, and eye disorders. The effective date for service connection will be determined based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease (claimed as myocardial infarction) is denied. The Board found no evidence of CUE in the August 2001 rating decision and concluded that there was no unadjudicated application to reopen the claim prior to January 17, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of May 2, 2019 for his service-connected coronary heart disease, ischemic cardiomyopathy, status post myocardial infarction.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim for residuals of fainting spells, including anxiety, heart condition, or epilepsy.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as his service-connected hearing loss has been shown to be no worse than Level II in the right ear and Level I in the left ear.,Service connection for ischemic heart disease, which is presumed due to herbicide exposure, was also denied because there is no current diagnosis of a heart condition or ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease, status post CABG, is rated at 60 percent from May 30, 2011 to July 24, 2014 and at a maximum of 100 percent thereafter.,Service connection for COPD was denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it began during service or is related to an in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's in-service symptoms and his later diagnosed tuberculosis.

The Board has remanded the cases for obtaining VA treatment records from VAMC Dallas from January 1, 1975 to May 29, 1995. The Veteran's service connection claims for a heart condition and COPD are still pending.

The Board has ordered remand for additional development regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for ischemic heart disease and PTSD, as well as his TDIU and SMC claims. The VA will provide new examinations to address these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist degenerative arthritis, status post arthroplasty. The claim of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and bilateral hearing loss disability, finding no evidence of in-service injury or exposure that could support these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial ratings higher than 30 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD), status post coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) prior to October 21, 2014, and in excess of 60 percent from February 1, 2015. The Board also remanded the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination that did not consider direct service connection for a heart disability. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again with new evidence and opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to concerns about the competency of the VA examiner who provided a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's heart disease. The AOJ will need to obtain a new VA medical opinion from an appropriate examiner with the requisite expertise.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and impaired fasting glucose was granted. Service connection is also granted for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for cerebrovascular disability, headache disability, memory loss disability, and heart disability due to potential etiological links to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for obtaining additional medical records and conducting a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected coronary artery bypass graft. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 5, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical records and a need for a new examination of the Veteran's heart disability. The ultimate question of employment capability is not a medical one but rather an adjudicator's determination.