Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from June 22, 2016 to June 5, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities. The issue of TDIU subsequent to June 5, 2019 is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease and scar of the anterior chest wall are being remanded for further evaluation due to potential worsening since the last VA examination in April 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, an increased rating for IHD and CAD status post CABG, and TDIU due to conflicting evidence on whether he has a disability manifested by chronic fatigue or if his current fatigue is related to his service-connected heart conditions. The Veteran needs to provide additional medical opinions from Dr. J.K. regarding the cause of his fatigue and an opinion addressing whether his valvular heart disease is related to his service-connected IHD and CAD.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus, diabetic nephropathy, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and coronary artery disease. The Veteran's claims were not granted prior to October 30, 2006.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and an increased rating for ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease) were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for either condition, as there was no evidence of their onset in-service or within one year following separation from service. The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions, including kidney condition, GERD, thyroid disease, diabetes mellitus type II, nicotine dependency, hepatitis C and its residuals, peripheral artery disease, opioid dependency, hypertension (also claimed as high blood pressure), chronic back condition as secondary to multiple myeloma, COPD, multiple myeloma, coronary artery disease (CAD), erectile dysfunction, and chronic anemia. The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lung cancer, coronary artery disease (CAD), and diabetes mellitus type 2 (diabetes) due to insufficient development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion and need for additional development. The Veteran's heart disability is being reviewed again with new evidence considered.

The Veteran's heart condition was rated at a 30 percent prior to April 22, 2014. After that date, the rating was increased to 60 percent but only until November 30, 2016. The Board found no evidence of chronic congestive heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction less than 30 percent after April 22, 2014.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for various conditions due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for ischemic heart disease status post myocardial infarction is granted at a 30 percent rating effective December 8, 1998. The Veteran's request for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent prior to March 23, 2018 and in excess of 60 percent from March 23, 2018 is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for cardiovascular disorders, including secondary to obstructive sleep apnea. The examiner must provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that each condition had onset in or is otherwise related to active military service and if any are caused or aggravated by the service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder other than residuals of coarctation of the aorta, to include hypertension, coronary artery disease, hypercholesterolemia, aortic valve disease, and left ventricular hypertrophy; and for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for surgical residuals of coarctation of the aorta. The remand requires additional development including obtaining expert medical opinions on heart disorders other than residuals of coarctation of the aorta.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including evaluations and service connection determinations. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also being remanded to consider additional factors.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. His CAD has also been granted based on herbicide exposure in Korea.,Service connection for his back disability, right lower extremity sciatica, skin disabilities (porphyria cutanea tarda and eczema), hemochromatosis, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and TDIU has been granted. However, these claims are remanded due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cardiovascular disability other than hypertension and atypical chest pain have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an extension of a temporary total rating beyond February 28, 2019 due to convalescence following surgery for service-connected coronary artery disease is remanded because the VA did not obtain relevant private treatment records from Sanford Clinic.

The Veteran is not competent to handle disbursement of VA funds due to his mental incapacity, as determined by a VA examiner.