Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Board has dismissed all appeals due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for ischemic heart disease and a TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding his current disability severity. The case is also remanded for obtaining VA treatment records from March 2018 onwards, as well as any private treatment records.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as of August 22, 2018 due to his service-connected coronary artery disease. Prior to this date, the TDIU claim was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and CAD rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 28, 2000. The Board granted an effective date of August 28, 2000 for the award of TDIU.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Heart Disability due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The claims are being returned for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease and residuals of a stroke due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange. The case will be returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) to determine if the Veteran served within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam during his active duty.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for coronary heart disease was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on METs score or ejection fraction.

The appeal for service connection for an autoimmune disease is dismissed. Service connection for asbestosis (claimed as a skin rash) and CAD are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, finding that there was no basis for such claims based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his PTSD with alcoholism, and he is granted service connection for this condition.,Throughout the appeal period, the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a heart condition is denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of direct, secondary, or presumptive service connection for his heart condition. His PTSD rating from January 29, 2018 through July 1, 2018 remains at 70 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease due to herbicide exposure. The claims are also being remanded for a VA examination to determine if any current lung disability is related to in-service asthma or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected Type II diabetes is found to be the cause of his current diagnosis of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), and therefore, he is granted service connection for PAD.

The Veteran's heart condition and right knee condition have been granted service connection. The tinnitus, RLE trochanter bursitis and coxa valga, and LLE trochanter bursitis and coxa valga claims are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for a heart disability and prostate cancer due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Korea.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete compliance with previous remands and conflicting medical opinions regarding the Veteran's ischemic heart disease. A VA medical opinion is needed to clarify the diagnosis.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes is granted. The claims for service connection for coronary artery disease are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for prostate cancer, colon cancer, and ischemic heart disease due to potential exposure to ionizing radiation during service. The RO must request a review of the Veteran's claim file for this development under VA regulations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current heart disability and the mitral insufficiency diagnosed during service. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any additional heart disability as a result of post-myocardial infarction care provided at a VA medical facility in February 2012, and such care did not involve carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, similar instance of fault, or an event not reasonably foreseeable. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition are remanded.