Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, penile conditions, and depression, prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and need for further development, including verification of Vietnam-era service exposure and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of diagnoses, as well as opinions regarding service connection. The Veteran's heart disorder, diabetes mellitus, type 2, and kidney disorder are all being reviewed to determine if they are related to his military service, including herbicide exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease did not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment in the year prior to February 21, 2013. Therefore, an earlier effective date for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and ischemic heart disease were denied as there was no evidence of current disabilities meeting the criteria for VA purposes. The claim for TDIU was also denied due to lack of a current disability that precludes gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating on hypertension was dismissed. The Court of Appeals granted service connection for coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure as secondary to his service-connected hypertension, with a 10 percent rating assigned for the scar of the right hip.,A mixed disposition is noted due to some issues being granted (CAD) while others were dismissed or not addressed.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease. The claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric history, a skin disorder, a prostate disorder, and a lumbar spine disorder are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents, including diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction. The decision is pending further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to potential missing VA treatment records, surgical reports, and a need for further examination. The referred claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for hepatitis C is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure, finding that the Veteran was exposed to these conditions during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus type 2, finding that the Veteran served within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam landmass during his naval service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for coronary artery disease, acute renal failure, anemia, and hypertension due to their inextricably intertwined nature with her claim of service connection for coronary artery disease. The heart disorder issue is also being remanded for a VA opinion.

The Board denied the claim for DIC due to ischemic heart disease, finding no new and material evidence related to the previously unestablished nexus element.

The Veteran's surviving spouse is seeking accrued benefits for arteriosclerotic heart disease. The appeal is remanded to determine if the appellant filed a claim within one year of the Veteran’s death and whether the Veteran was entitled to service connection at the time of his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding whether the Veteran served within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of the Republic of Vietnam while aboard the USS Savage. The VA will need to determine this and obtain any relevant medical records.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to the inextricably intertwined issues of service connection and increased ratings. The claims will be readjudicated after any necessary development.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his coronary artery disease (CAD) was denied. The Veteran’s condition is rated under Diagnostic Code 7005, and the only evidence responsive to the rating criteria comes from the February 2017 compensation and pension (C&P) examination.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol use disorder was denied. The Veteran’s symptoms more closely approximated the symptoms associated with a 70 percent rating, resulting in a level of impairment that most closely approximated the level of impairment associated with a 70 percent rating.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for his 60 percent disability rating for CAD was denied. The Veteran’s August 2017 notice of disagreement (NOD) is not timely with respect to this decision.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for his 70 percent disability rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder was denied. The Veteran’s August 2017 NOD is not timely with respect to this decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's cardiac disabilities, including coronary artery disease (CAD), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), and atrial fibrillation. The VA will need to obtain additional medical records and provide a comprehensive opinion on these issues.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic heart disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of such conditions during or related to the Veteran's active service.