Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for heart condition due to herbicide exposure, finding insufficient evidence of such exposure and concluding that the heart condition did not begin during or within a year after separation from service.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and heart disorder due to incomplete development of private treatment records and potential herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further development, including obtaining medical records and verifying in-service exposure.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension has been reopened and is now considered on the merits. The heart disability (including coronary artery disease) and stroke residuals claims are remanded to allow further development.,A noncompensable rating was assigned for pseudofolliculitis, with no evidence of incapacitating episodes as defined by VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a respiratory disorder and entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims due to his death, and no jurisdiction remains for further action.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is granted a 100% rating effective January 30, 2017. The diabetes and bilateral eye disability are denied increased ratings. Service connection for depression, melanoma, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as a need for additional medical opinions regarding his low back disability, hearing loss, tinnitus, acid reflux, chronic cough, and heart disability.

Service connection for OSA is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD and bronchitis. A higher rating in excess of 70 percent for service-connected PTSD is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for cerebral hemorrhage and heart condition as there is no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and gastrointestinal disability due to outstanding records that need to be obtained, including SSA records, private treatment records from Dr. D., Dr. H., and in-patient hospitalization records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to engage and retain substantially gainful employment from July 10, 2005 to August 3, 2015. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

For the period prior to July 29, 2019, the Veteran's ischemic heart disease did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,For the period beginning July 29, 2019, the Veteran's ischemic heart disease met the criteria for a 30% disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to June 16, 2010 was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not meet the percentage requirements for a schedular TDIU rating. The Board found that referral for extraschedular consideration was not warranted.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period from September 1, 2011 to November 14, 2011. The claim of entitlement to TDIU for the period from November 15, 2011 to December 31, 2012 is moot due to the Veteran's 100% schedular rating and SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s). The claim of TDIU prior to September 1, 2011 was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or maintain a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a nervous disorder and hypertension was granted. Service connection for hypertension is also granted, but the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed heart or cervical spine condition related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a new addendum medical opinion to address whether his cardiac disorders are caused or aggravated by his service-connected psoriasis and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination in July 2016, and a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran is entitled to a higher initial rating for CAD.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for coronary artery disease was denied, and his claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound was also denied because the need was not due to service-connected disabilities.