Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, right and left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, osteoarthritis of the shoulders, and peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities have been granted. The exposure to Agent Orange is presumed.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the merits were dismissed due to his withdrawal of these issues. The claim for an additional allowance for dependents was granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran had herbicide agent exposure in service and that his death was caused by myocardial infarction, an enumerated disability associated with such exposure. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for mood disorder, heart disability, and left knee disability was denied.,The Veteran's claim for increased rating of heart disability from April 14, 2010 to October 5, 2013 was denied.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease (also claimed as ischemic heart disease), but remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, atrial fibrillation (claimed as a heart condition), and speech impairment secondary to atrial fibrillation due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature of the Veteran's disabilities and their relationship to service or herbicide exposure. The Veteran needs updated VA examinations and an etiology opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. Specifically, a VA examination is needed to determine if hypertension clearly and unmistakably preexisted service, was aggravated by service, or is related to service. Additionally, a cardiologist's opinion on the current severity of the heart disability and its impact on employment is required.

Your claims for increased ratings for heart disability and diabetes mellitus have been dismissed as you did not file a Notice of Disagreement (NOD).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral eye condition (including cataracts), valvular heart disease, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The claims are being remanded for further development including obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for prostate cancer, heart disability, and hypertension as the evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents is not established, and there is no indication that his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new medical opinion to address the etiology of the Veteran's heart conditions, including whether they are related to service and/or herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives. The claim for increased rating for sinusitis remains denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for several conditions, and the Board dismissed them as a result.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right knee disabilities, but has remanded them due to additional development being needed. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and heart disorder are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension, as well as the claim for TDIU. The Veteran's heart issues are being reviewed again due to incomplete medical records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertensive heart disease and whether it is related to service-connected disabilities. The case will be reviewed with a focus on obtaining an opinion regarding Operation Red Hat exposure and its relation to the condition, as well as any aggravation by service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional cardiology records related to the Veteran's ischemic heart disease due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The AOJ is instructed to ensure these records are obtained and notified if further efforts will not be fruitful.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right radial ulnar disability, finding that his heart condition was aggravated by his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.