Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition and diabetes mellitus type II due to herbicide agent exposure. The remand is based on incomplete records from the Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC).

The Veteran's service connection claims for COPD, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet, and ischemic heart disease were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension, and rheumatoid arthritis, all of which are secondary to his service-connected hepatitis C.,The VA examiners found no evidence of rheumatoid arthritis in the Veteran's medical records subsequent to 2005.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a cardiovascular disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for chronic kidney disease and a heart condition due to a BCG procedure performed at a VA facility in December 2006, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not indicate fault on the part of VA.

The Board has vacated multiple decisions related to various service connection claims, including those for coronary artery disease, a scar, and peripheral neuropathy. The issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, glaucoma, erectile dysfunction, prostate disability, skin rash, and peripheral neuropathy have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's heart disorder, hypertension, and pregnancy-related disorders. The VA is required to obtain additional medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Board has decided that another remand is necessary before the matter of the Veteran's entitlement to a TDIU can be adjudicated. The RO must obtain an opinion from a qualified clinician regarding the functional impact of the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities, in combination, on his employability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, secondary to his service-connected bronchitis with sleep apnea. The decision is based on the evidence being at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran’s heart disability is caused by his service-connected bronchitis with sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD, CAD, and TDIU due to potential worsening of his service-connected conditions and the need for updated medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD is dismissed as a full grant of the benefit sought on appeal has been granted.,The issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for dermatitis is dismissed due to a full grant of the benefit sought on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, heart disorder, and epididymo-orchitis have been denied. The Board found no evidence linking the current conditions to his military service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, chronic kidney disease as secondary to hypertension, heart disease as secondary to hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II as secondary to hypertension. The Veteran's conditions are found to be proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.

PTSD was granted at a rating of 50 percent prior to June 30, 2019.,PTSD was granted at a rating of 70 percent from June 30, 2019 to September 1, 2019 (excluding July 2, 2019).,Ischemic heart disease did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 60 percent.,The Veteran was granted TDIU.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is related to his presumed in-service exposure to herbicide agents in the Republic of Vietnam, and service connection for this condition has been granted.

The Veteran's left shoulder hemiarthroplasty is being remanded for further review.,Essential hypertension secondary to sleep apnea or stroke residuals is being remanded for further review.,Sleep apnea secondary to stroke residuals is being remanded for further review.,Osteoarthritis is being remanded for further review.,A chronic kidney disorder with kidney stones, secondary to osteoarthritis, is being remanded for further review.,Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), secondary to sleep apnea, is being remanded for further review.,Gout, secondary to a chronic kidney disorder, is being remanded for further review.,Coronary artery disease (CAD), secondary to sleep apnea, is being remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of peripheral neuropathy, right and left upper extremities are being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also being remanded due to the interrelated nature with his other service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder, including arrhythmia, finding that there is no causal relationship between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and ischemic heart disease, finding that the Veteran's occupational duties required him to be present at or near the base perimeter, presumptively exposing him to herbicide agents. Service connection was denied for COPD due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the condition and service.,The Veteran's CAD rating is denied because his METs level has not reached 3 METs or less resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope, nor does his left ventricular ejection fraction fall below 30 percent.