Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder in remission.,The Veteran's ventricular arrhythmia with implanted automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (heart disability) is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder in remission.

The Board has remanded the claims for Alzheimer’s disease/dementia, kidney disease, and heart disorder due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The appellant's DIC claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied as the Veteran did not have a service-connected disability rated as totally disabling at any point after his separation from service.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and a heart disorder, finding insufficient evidence to establish the onset or relationship of these conditions to service.

The Board denied the claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and Dependents' Educational Assistance, finding that no evidence supports an earlier date than May 2, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for neuropathy of the left lower extremity, right lower extremity, left upper extremity, and right upper extremity as not related to service or herbicide exposure.,The Board also denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for coronary artery disease, coronary angioplasty with stent.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from October 30, 2018 to November 28, 2018. His claim for service connection for a heart disability is remanded and his temporary total rating based on hospital treatment in excess of 21 days for left knee disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, neuropathy, basal cell carcinoma, and heart condition. The issues are related to alleged herbicide agent exposure during service in Korea.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence sufficient to readjudicate the previously denied claims for service connection for a heart condition, hypertension, and OSA has been received. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right arm weakness, low back condition, left lower extremity condition/sciatica (including leg weakness, aches, pains, numbness), left arm and hand weakness, stroke, heart condition, atrial fibrillation. The Veteran's dry scalp condition was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development regarding the Veteran's heart condition and its relationship to his service-connected glomerulonephritis with hypertension, reactive anxiety and hypoglycemia. Additional VA treatment records are needed, and an addendum opinion is required from the examiner.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient VA examination opinions regarding whether the Veteran has been diagnosed with coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure, and if so, whether these conditions are related to his service-connected COPD with asbestosis.

The Veteran's skin disorder, including acne, is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the February 2020 VA medical opinion.,The Veteran's heart disorder (including non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, atrial flutter and congestive heart failure) is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the February 2020 VA medical opinion regarding its relationship to hypertension.,The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the February 2020 VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a 100 percent rating for coronary artery disease, prior to December 9, 2016, and from April 1, 2017, is granted. The appeal regarding entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed as moot.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and individual unemployability due to heart disabilities, as well as TDIU prior to July 14, 2020. The case is being referred to the VA Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for ischemic heart disease, which was linked to herbicide exposure, has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and needs further medical opinions regarding service connection for the Veteran's cause of death.

The Veteran's appeals for an initial compensable evaluation for hypertensive heart disease and service connection for sleep apnea have been dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board dismissed all claims for service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining any outstanding VA treatment records and conducting additional development as necessary. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to TDIU prior to February 25, 2015 is pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remands and insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's heart condition claim is also being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.