Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus, heart disorder, hypertension, and GERD due to inadequate medical opinions and additional development is required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection are being remanded due to the inadequacy of a July 2016 VA opinion regarding bilateral hearing loss, diabetes, heart disorder, left leg tumor, prostate cancer, vision disorder, peripheral neuropathy, and sleep apnea. The Board will seek verification of herbicide agent exposure in Korea and obtain an addendum opinion from an audiologist to address the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for chronic bronchitis or service connection for CAD or ED as secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death due to diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease, finding that these conditions did not materially contribute to the Veteran's death.

A disability rating of 30 percent, but no more, for a neck disability from August 1, 2005 to November 18, 2012 is granted.,A disability rating in excess of 30 percent for a neck disability from November 19, 2012 is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease, as well as the claim for a back disability due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's in-service blood pressure readings and complaints of back pain are to be considered.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of service connection for bilateral hand disability, bilateral knee disability, gout, hypertension, mesothelioma, heart disability, and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for coronary artery disease and hypertension, both of which are being reviewed due to potential herbicide exposure during service. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's heart disability, specifically his reported symptoms during service.

The Board denied service connection for heart disease, including coronary artery disease, finding that the Veteran's condition was not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service.

The appeal for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's heart disorder. The case will be returned for further development and an additional VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his coronary artery disease was denied as the evidence did not support such a rating. The Board found that the Veteran’s condition, while affecting his activities of daily living, did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for pancreatitis as secondary to PTSD and denied the claim of entitlement to a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for service-connected coronary artery disease, special monthly compensation based on housebound status, and total disability rating due to individual unemployability have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus were denied. The claim for a higher rating for prostate cancer was granted effective March 30, 2020.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to December 8, 2015 due to the limitations associated with his service-connected disabilities not rendering him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Hypertension and Coronary artery disease due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to April 12, 2017 and from August 1, 2017. The decision found no evidence that the Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart and respiratory disorders, attributing these to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The claims are being returned for further development.