Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, including coronary artery disease status post CABG, finding that there was no causal connection between his current condition and his in-service symptoms. The Board noted that the Veteran did not have continuous medical treatment or aggravation of an acute or chronic cardiac condition during time of discharge from active military service to the present.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's diagnosed coronary artery disease (CAD) due to exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty service in Thailand.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection for various disabilities as the Veteran did not allege specific errors of law or fact in the determinations.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) prior to May 10, 2005 is granted at a 30 percent level.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and coronary artery disease for further development. The case of bilateral hearing loss will require an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to service, specifically noting the audiometric findings at separation from service. For the case of coronary artery disease, the Board must determine if the Veteran served in the Republic of Vietnam and apply the relevant laws accordingly.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, benign prostatic hypertrophy, poor circulation, numbness of the left leg, numbness of the right leg, erectile dysfunction, asthma, coronary artery disease and chronic congestive heart failure, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and urinary incontinence due to a lack of an adequate VA examination for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease) as the Veteran's death was due to this condition, which developed during his military service.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease, which resulted in left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 40 percent, is rated at a 60 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides while stationed at Korat RTAFB in Vietnam. The Veteran must provide more details about his trips into Vietnam and any exposure to herbicides, which will be verified by the JSRRC.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition, as he reported increased symptoms since his last examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee disability, Grave's disease, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), history of C-section, and costochondritis. The Veteran was granted service connection for allergic conjunctivitis.

The Veteran's death was caused by multi-system organ failure, with contributory causes being Parkinson’s disease, ischemic heart disease, and type II diabetes mellitus. These conditions are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure in Korea.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death, and no service connection was granted or denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the service connection for hypertension and its relationship to the Veteran's PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a scar from pacemaker surgery was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for ischemic heart disease (including myocardial infarction) was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for the scar from pacemaker surgery was denied.,The Veteran's claim for total disability due to individual unemployability based on service-connected disabilities was granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for development of VA treatment records and to associate certain documents from Good Shepherd Home Care/Longview and Good Shepherd Medical Center. The issues include determining an appropriate disability rating for coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction with congestive heart failure, and establishing an earlier effective date for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral shoulder disabilities. The case is remanded for a new examination to determine the etiology of any current bilateral shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for rheumatic heart disease was dismissed due to his death before a decision could be made.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder other than coronary and ischemic heart disease, as well as his claim for total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the Veteran's current heart disorders were not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes and coronary and ischemic heart disease.

The Board has granted the reopening of previously denied claims for service connection for a heart condition, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and shortness of breath. The claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities are remanded.