Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease and TDIU claims need further development due to the need for medical opinions regarding the etiology of his heart conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to his death have been dismissed due to the Veteran's passing.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from September 7, 2018 to April 29, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his coronary artery disease, which was previously rated at 30 percent from June 18, 2019 to May 1, 2006, is granted. The evidence shows that the condition was severe and required two bypasses and caused two heart attacks during this period.

The Board denied service connection for vision problems and memory loss, as well as diabetes mellitus and heart disorder. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection was also denied on the merits.

The Board has ordered a remand for the Veteran to be examined by a cardiologist to determine if he has a heart condition and whether any diagnosed heart condition is causally related to active service, including herbicide exposure. The case will be returned to the Board after the examination.

The Veteran's CAD is currently rated at 100 percent disabling from July 2, 2020. The Board denied an increased rating higher than 100 percent for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's hypertension and TDIU claim are remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with previous Board directives. The case is also remanded for a new VA medical opinion on the aggravation of hypertension by his service-connected heart disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for ischemic heart disease prior to September 1, 2014 was denied. The reduction of the evaluation from 60% to 30% effective September 1, 2014 is upheld.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring a VA examination for heart conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran served in the Korean DMZ during the relevant period, allowing for a presumption of exposure to herbicide agents. As diabetes is presumptively related to such exposure, service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus, type II (diabetes). The heart disability and hypertension claims are remanded due to the enactment of 38 U.S.C. § 1116B creating a new basis for entitlement.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain addendum opinions regarding service connection for heart disorder, coronary artery disease, and hypertension secondary to PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, migraine headaches, and coronary artery disease due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claims are based on secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Parkinson's disease, interstitial lung disease, depression with sleep impairment, speech impairment, larynx paralysis, and ischemic heart disease, have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his physical and cognitive impairments. The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board denied the claim for a TDIU rating, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment during the period at issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, ischemic heart disease, and prostate cancer have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided in February 2019 was inadequate for evaluating the Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD) and has ordered a remand to obtain an updated opinion from a different medical professional.

The Veteran's IHD rating was restored to 60 percent, and his PTSD rating remains at 70 percent. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Korea, and a VA examination is needed to determine if there is a direct relationship between his reported exposure to commercial weed killer and his ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for his service-connected coronary artery disease with atrial fibrillation, status post heart block, with pacemaker. The Board denied this request as the effective date cannot precede the effective date of his primary disability, hypertension.