Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations and for clarification of diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and a heart disorder. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for either condition as there is no evidence that they began during his military service or are otherwise related.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work. The Veteran will need a new examination to assess the severity of his conditions, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, unspecified depressive disorder, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer residuals have been found to prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and he is now eligible for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) as it found that there was no in-service incurrence of CAD and that the current diagnosis is not related to his service-connected seizure disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease is remanded due to the need for a current VA examination and echocardiogram.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder, finding that his current condition is due to a congenital heart defect and not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and heart disability. The VA must provide addendum opinions addressing these issues.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist, right wrist, bilateral knee, and heart disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,The appeal is currently pending as one issue remains unresolved: service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression).

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a heart disorder other than atrial fibrillation and an increased rating for diabetes mellitus due to errors in previous decisions and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the matter is not ripe for appellate review due to procedural issues and remands the case for full compliance with contested claims procedures.

The Veteran is rendered unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of service-connected disabilities from April 12, 2010 to January 15, 2019. However, for the period prior to April 12, 2010, the Veteran does not meet the combined disability rating percentage criteria for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). The case is remanded for referral to VA’s Director of Compensation for consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to be service-connected due to his exposure to herbicides during service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to his service-connected hypertension. The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, and bilateral hearing loss are all rated at the minimum levels allowed by law. The Veteran's PTSD is assigned a rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II were denied as there was no prior claim filed within one year of separation from active duty, and the earliest possible effective date is February 24, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service or any service-connected conditions. The decision also noted that herbicide exposure in Vietnam did not apply to him due to lack of documentation of service in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded four issues: increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and ventricular arrythmia, service connection for benign prostatic hyperplasia, and service connection for ischemic heart disease. The Veteran is to be provided with VA examinations to assess the severity of his disabilities and determine their etiology.

The Veteran's hypertension was evaluated at 10 percent since 2002, but the Board found that there were no blood pressure readings meeting the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran’s coronary artery disease with left atrial enlargement has been rated at 30 percent since 2002. The Board determined that there was insufficient evidence to warrant an increased rating.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction and bypass surgery is granted. The right ear disability compensation claim is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities as he can perform sedentary work and does not have marginal employment.