Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's heart condition.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, finding that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a heart disability and there is no objective medical evidence to support such a claim.

The Veteran's right lung disability, post-lobectomy, is rated at 30 percent since June 6, 2016. The condition does not meet criteria for a higher rating as it does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 27, 2017.

The Board has remanded four issues related to service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease, due to herbicide exposure. The AOJ needs to verify the ship's location of USS Haleakala during the Veteran's service in Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine condition, allergic condition, stomach condition, heart condition, joints condition, lower back condition, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The claims were all denied as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine with osteoarthritis (low back disorder), and coronary artery disease (CAD) have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has remanded for further evaluation due to the complexity of his conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions were the proximate cause or aggravated his death. The claims for increase are also referred.

The Veteran's service connection for Ischemic Heart Disease is granted due to exposure to herbicides during his service in Thailand.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected disabilities, specifically hypertension and hypertensive heart disease.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for coronary artery disease and TDIU have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The appeal is considered moot as no living person can file an appeal on behalf of the deceased.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD and remanded the issues of service connection for tonsillar cancer, coronary artery disease, an earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss, and a higher initial rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that his current condition began during active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Parkinson’s disease, coronary artery disease (claimed as heart disease), and lung disease due to herbicide exposure. The AOJ is instructed to determine if the Veteran served within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam and verify any claimed asbestos exposure in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues and the need for additional evidence, including a VA Form 21-8940 from the Veteran and updated medical records. A PTSD examination is also needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange and whether his coronary artery disease contributed to or hastened his death.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for residuals of head injury was denied. The Board also remanded the issue of increased rating for coronary artery disease.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and sleep apnea. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to his active military service.,Service connection was not granted because the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that the disabilities began during service or were otherwise related to in-service events.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his coronary artery disease prior to January 16, 2012 and his TDIU claim prior to May 1, 2012.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus, an acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD and depression), and a heart condition. The claims are remanded for further development including VA examinations to determine the nature of these conditions.