Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition, heart condition, and audiological condition due to insufficient evidence. The claim for service connection for pyloric ulcer channel ulcer and malnutrition (previously claimed as stomach condition) is reopened based on new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) was denied due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between the condition and his military service. The appeal is mixed as some issues are granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for Parkinson’s disease has been reopened, but the issue remains remanded as further examination and information from Social Security Administration records are needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected valvular heart disease with bradycardia caused or aggravated his erectile dysfunction.

The Board has denied service connection for arthritis (claimed as arthritis of the whole body) due to lack of evidence of a current disability. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) and type II diabetes mellitus, finding that the evidence did not support a conclusion that these disabilities were caused by an event or illness during active service.,Service connection was also denied for erectile dysfunction associated with type II diabetes mellitus. The Board found no direct causation of these conditions during active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated her sleep apnea. The case is being returned for further development and an updated opinion.

The Veteran's initial rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,For his coronary artery disease, the Veteran's initial ratings prior to January 16, 2019, and from January 16, 2019, are both denied as they do not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to May 9, 2018 was denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities alone prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for the period prior to May 15, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's heart condition. The Veteran was seen for a noninvasive cardiologic evaluation 8 years after separation from service, and there is no clear evidence linking his current heart condition to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for increased evaluations or service connection. The Board denied service connection for hypertensive heart disease and denied all issues related to diabetic polyneuropathy of the sciatic nerve and femoral nerves, as well as service connection for erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, thyroid disorder, cardiac disability, arrhythmia, basal cell carcinoma, and sleep apnea have all been granted. The lumbar spine disability claim has not been resolved.

The Veteran's cause of death, cardiopulmonary arrest with underlying causes of ischemic cardiomyopathy and coronary artery disease, was not incurred in service or due to a service-connected disability. The Board found the preponderance of evidence against service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the claim for TDIU due to the need for additional medical records and information from the Veteran. The case will be reviewed again with a focus on assessing the Veteran's functional limitations and whether he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The heart disability issue is dismissed. Service connection for PTSD, vertigo, plantar fasciitis, TBI, left wrist, bilateral ankle, bilateral elbow, and bilateral hand disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's initial rating for coronary artery disease prior to March 21, 2013 is denied as his workload was less than 7 METs and he did not have cardiac hypertrophy or dilation. For the period from March 21, 2013 onwards, a higher rating of 60 percent is denied due to lack of more than one episode of acute congestive heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 30-50%. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches to include as due to an undiagnosed illness. The VA examiner found no evidence supporting a causal relationship between his current headaches and any of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his sternal scar was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a 60 percent rating for his CAD status post triple heart bypass, myocardial infarction and stent was granted.

The Board has ordered the RO to obtain additional service records and provide an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the respiratory disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, heart disorder, hypertension, and hypothyroid disorder. The issues have been remanded for these purposes.