Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Veteran's application to reopen his hearing loss disability claim has been granted. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely posttraumatic stress disorder), and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease and congestive heart failure are currently rated at 100 percent effective October 3, 2019. The Board has ordered additional development to determine the severity of his condition prior to that date.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's heart conditions are related to service, but needs additional evidence from a medical expert regarding the relationship between his heart conditions and exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's heart condition is service-connected. The issue of back and neck pain being secondary to a service-connected right knee disability is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including IHD, diabetes, renal insufficiency, and bilateral hearing loss, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on this evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical records and a need for an updated VA opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service, exposure to Agent Orange, and his death from hypertensive cardiovascular disease.

The Veteran's initial rating for coronary artery disease prior to August 5, 2013 was granted at 30 percent. The ratings of 60 percent from August 5, 2013 to August 31, 2016 and since August 29, 2017 were denied. A temporary 100 percent rating for CAD following a myocardial infarction was granted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy due to inadequate medical opinions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain addendum opinions addressing the etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's heart disability is related to an incident with a plane in the early 1950s during service.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise, and therefore grants service connection for aortic valve stenosis with mitral valve regurgitation and coronary artery disease, finding it likely related to scarlet fever in service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for the cause of death, burial benefits, and a pension due to an in-service heart disorder possibly caused by herbicide exposure. The appellant needs to provide a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's coronary artery disease was a principal or contributory cause of his death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability, including ischemic heart disease (IHD), and an increased rating for PTSD. The evidence does not support a finding of IHD or any other heart condition due to service, and there is no indication that PTSD was caused by service.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disorder (including asthma and COPD) and a heart disorder (including congestive heart failure and ischemic heart disease).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to in-service events.

The Veteran died from cardiorespiratory arrest due to coronary artery disease and bypass surgery. The claim for nonservice-connected burial benefits is denied as the Veteran was not receiving VA compensation or pension at the time of his death, nor did he have any pending claims.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease status-post CABG is granted as it was incurred during service and is related to his in-service hypertriglyceridemia.

The Veteran's initial rating for his service-connected ischemic heart disease with stable angina is being remanded due to insufficient compliance with previous Board directives and the need for additional VA examination records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for CAD, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus due to exposure to herbicides during military service. The case must be returned to the JSRRC for verification of herbicide exposure in Okinawa and Thailand.

The Veteran's CAD is rated at 10 percent and the Board finds an updated examination needed to reassess the severity of his condition.,Service connection for arthritis of multiple joints is remanded as the Veteran has a current diagnosis but no VA examination was conducted regarding its etiology. ,Diabetes Mellitus, Type II, is presumed due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam, but further evidence is needed to determine if he now meets the diagnostic criteria.,Radiculopathy of the left upper extremity is remanded as a new VA examination is needed to determine the current diagnosis and whether it is related to service-connected conditions or DM II.,Radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is also remanded for similar reasons.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for heart disease, including valvular heart disease, was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.