Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions and exposure. The AOJ is instructed to investigate potential herbicide agent exposure, obtain an addendum opinion from a VA psychologist on PTSD, arrange for a VA examination to determine if CAD, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and GERD are related to service or any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for coronary artery disease and entitlement to TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of his service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disease is related to asbestos exposure during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease has rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since September 3, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, ischemic heart disease, is presumed to be related to service due to exposure to herbicide agents (including Agent Orange) during his active duty. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death is granted.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for TMJ, a heart disorder, and a headache disorder as they have already been adjudicated in a previous final decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of current medical records and exposure verification. The Veteran is also asked to provide information about his in-service injury or event that may have caused his psychiatric disability.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as due to exposure to herbicide agents. The claims for edema and heart condition were denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. High blood pressure, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety neurosis, and PTSD), coronary artery disease status post coronary artery bypass, and colon cancer are all found to be related to service or presumptively due to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than November 14, 2014 are being remanded due to the complexity of the issues and the need for clarification from the Veteran regarding her appeals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and evaluation, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding his service-connected conditions and exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted. The effective date of the grant of service connection for degenerative disease of the left shoulder, right shoulder disability, and heart disability is set at June 23, 2011. Service connection for a dental condition is remanded.

The Veteran's heart condition is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board has remanded the issue to determine if an extra-schedular rating is warranted due to his employment interference.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as not related to service.,A 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted effective July 24, 2013.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to possible in-service occurrence and current impairment.,Service connection for a heart disability (presumed due to herbicide exposure) is granted as service-connected.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and his claim for a TDIU due to outstanding VA treatment records and an assessment of the aggregate effect of his service-connected disabilities on his functionality.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) was denied. The Board found that the current 60 percent disability rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.,For the remaining claims, including those related to peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities and TDIU, additional development is needed as per prior directives.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, but his hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) and other conditions are denied. The Board has remanded for further review of the remaining issues.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease was rated at 60 percent from April 12, 2018 through January 14, 2020.,Prior to April 12, 2018, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

Service connection for PTSD is granted. The Veteran's left shoulder condition and coronary artery disease are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for coronary artery disease (CAD) has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating at any point.