Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and a heart disability are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between current conditions and in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's PTSD, heart disability, and sleep apnea. The new evidence includes VA treatment records that have not been considered yet.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and effective dates for his coronary artery disease (CAD) is dismissed due to the death of the claimant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back, right knee, left knee, right foot, left foot, neurological disorders (fibromyalgia and toxic encephalopathy), CFS, heart disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss. The appeals are now pending with the AOJ.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) and hypertension (HTN) as secondary to the Veteran's major depressive disorder with posttraumatic stress and anxiety features. The evidence shows that these conditions have been aggravated by his psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the reduction of his prostate cancer rating to 60 percent was dismissed. The Board also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for coronary artery disease status post myocardial infarction, finding that the Veteran did not sustain additional disability as a result of VA carelessness or negligence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for heart condition, finding that his rheumatic valvulitis preexisted service and was not aggravated by service. The Board also found no evidence of any increase in severity beyond natural progression during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for heart failure and coronary artery disease, including potential exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims for GERD and heart disorder was granted. The applications for lumbar spine disorder and cervical spine disorder were denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II (DMII), and peripheral neuropathy of all extremities due to new evidence received after the September 2012 rating decision. The Veteran's exposure is alleged to be from in-country Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for CAD is reopened and remanded due to new evidence received, including statements from the Veteran and VA medical center records. The Board finds that there is sufficient evidence to warrant a VA examination for the Veteran’s claim for service connection for CAD, including exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for coronary artery disease prior to February 5, 2018 is being remanded due to the need for additional development and a retrospective medical opinion regarding the severity of his condition during the period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicides, including arteriosclerotic heart disease, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, bilateral retinopathy, neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, as well as issues related to his service-connected diabetes. The remand requires obtaining relevant reports from the U.S. Army and other agencies.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of August 4, 2004 for the service connection of coronary artery disease (CAD), coronary bypass surgery grafting scar, right leg, coronary bypass surgery scar, chest, and coronary bypass surgery grafting scar, left leg.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease requires further examination and opinion due to the lack of a specific diagnosis in his October 2014 statement. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is moot given the existing SMC rating.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, was granted. Claims for asthma, CFS, bronchitis, TBI, sleep apnea, COPD, and heart disorder were dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and insufficient medical evidence to support a nexus between current heart condition and service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease (CAD) was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not communicate or provide evidence to VA prior to October 25, 2004 that he had CAD.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected. The Board also found support for the Veteran's claims of lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, and back disability based on in-service exposure to asbestos and other factors.