Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals. The Board did not find any errors in the decisions.

The Board denied service connection for tachycardia, valvular heart disease (mitral valve prolapse), and hypertension.,There is no evidence of a direct link between the Veteran's current conditions and her military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected conditions, including diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for hypertension on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; polyneuropathy of the left and right lower extremities; and coronary artery disease due to herbicide agent exposure in Thailand. The Veteran's claims are denied as he did not meet the criteria for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for coronary artery disease is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his disability. The Veteran was previously granted service connection in May 2011 and has been rated at 30 percent since March 2014.

The Board has granted a TDIU for the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that his disability prevents him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The rating for CAD remains at 60 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as the current 10 percent rating already reflects all associated symptoms.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is remanded due to a need for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his disability.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with myocardial infarction (claimed as ischemic heart disease), associated with herbicide exposure, is remanded due to a need for a new VA examination and review of the claims file.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death due to lack of evidence linking the Veteran's congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents like Agent Orange. The Board found that there was no evidence supporting the appellant's assertion of Agent Orange exposure in Korea.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, including coronary artery disease, is granted as due to exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the claims of TDIU prior to April 24, 2017; ischemic heart disease evaluation in excess of 30 percent; service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to other service-connected disabilities; and right ear hearing loss. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA audiological examination to determine the current nature and severity of any right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, while his claims for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, type II were granted based on presumed exposure to herbicides during active duty in Thailand.

The Veteran's appeals regarding various disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, heart disorder, adrenal adenoma, hypertension, gout, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD, have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II are granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicides during his active duty in Thailand.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and missing military hospital records. The appellant is required to provide additional information about his periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (IDT). Additionally, the VA needs to obtain relevant medical records from Fort Dix, Fort Lee, Fort Bliss, and Fort McClellan.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and lack of substantial compliance with previous directives. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, including ischemic heart disease and aortic dilatation, is being referred back for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to the mootness of the skin disorder claim. The remaining issues were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link between the claimed conditions and military service.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for coronary artery disease is granted at a 60 percent rating prior to March 23, 2018.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected disabilities is granted.,Service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper extremities is granted.,Service connection for lumbar spine disability is denied.,Total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted from July 29, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, a heart disability, hemorrhoids, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents and his duties at Fort A.P. Hill.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and heart condition due to insufficient evidence in their favor. A new medical examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to service, including any potential environmental exposures.