Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and reconsideration of his original claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and coronary artery disease (claimed as carotid artery disease) due to incomplete records, inadequate medical opinions, and new evidence needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death and DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, finding that his death was not caused by any service-connected disabilities or related to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of April 30, 1981 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date for DEA benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 is remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for blindness, glaucoma, hypertension, TBI, rheumatoid arthritis, right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, left elbow disorder, right shoulder disorder, right wrist disorder, left wrist disorder, numbness and stiffness in the right toes, numbness, pain, and tingling in the left leg, joint pain and swelling in the jaw, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, bilateral pes planus, left foot bunions, right foot bunions, residuals of a rib fracture, right hand disorder, left hand disorder, tonsillitis, dizzy spells, chronic fatigue disorder, pharyngitis (inflammation of the throat), allergy disorder, breathing disorder, sleep apnea, heart disorder manifest by an irregular heartbeat, ulcer, gastritis, gastrointestinal disorder manifested by gas and stomach problems, GERD, kidney disorder, residuals of a left chest lipoma, obesity, left arm disorder, and numbness, pain, and stiffness in the fingers.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed respiratory, heart, skin, and neurological disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development including VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, finding that the Veteran did not have ischemic heart disease and that his heart disability was less likely as not related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since January 12, 2006. The rating for CAD was increased to 30 percent effective September 13, 2019. The claim of entitlement to TDIU is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his exposure to Camp Lejeune contaminated water, as he served at the base for over a month. The VA is instructed to obtain medical opinions regarding whether each of the claimed conditions are related to this exposure.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for Parkinson's disease, diabetes, and ischemic heart disease is granted. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and she is now entitled to benefits for uterine fibroids status post hysterectomy, vaginal ulcer, and supraventricular arrhythmia with episodic tachycardia.,Service connection has also been granted for a vaginal disability, including external vaginal ulcers, recurrent yeast infections, and uterine fibroids status post hysterectomy.

The Board has dismissed the claim for service connection for a heart disorder and/or ischemic heart disease, including as due to exposure to Agent Orange because it was granted in a previous decision. The Board also found that the Veteran's aortic ectasia is related to service and warrants separate grant of service connection.

The Veteran's 60% rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) is restored, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has granted reopening of the Veteran's claim for service connection for heart disorders, including congenital aortic root disease, myxomatous aortic valve, and aortic regurgitation. The decision is pending as it relates to whether these conditions were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's heart condition is granted service connection as it was aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric condition. However, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to ischemic heart disease, which is presumed related to his in-service herbicide exposure. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran is granted SMC based on loss of use of both hands due to service-connected cervical and upper extremity disabilities.,The need for regular aid and attendance claim is moot as the Veteran's SMC(m) award for loss of use of both hands is the greater benefit.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes have been granted as secondary to his left leg disability. The claim for hypertension is remanded.,A rating has not yet been assigned for the Veteran's scars.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a right knee disability due to new evidence received since the final denial. The claim for coronary artery disease remains pending as it was granted on a presumptive basis.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for all issues related to service connection, including bronchitis, heart disability (WPW Syndrome), hypertension, deep vein thrombosis, peptic ulcer, hernia hiatal, and glucose intolerance.