Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, heart disorder, respiratory disorder, and neuropathy of the extremities, have been denied as there is no current disability or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for mitral valve replacement and an increased disability rating for PTSD. The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and TDIU are also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding that the Veteran was presumptively exposed to herbicide agents during his active service in Vietnam and that his diagnosed condition is presumed to have been caused by such exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for low back disability, heart disability, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of a VA examination and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, including coronary artery disease, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand is at least as likely as not a factor in developing this condition. The decision also addresses the Veteran's service awards and their relevance to the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease and coronary artery disease are being remanded for further evaluation due to concerns about the competency of the VA examiner who evaluated his condition in July 2017, as well as potential worsening of his CAD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disorder, hypertension, bladder disorder (including yeast infection), left ankle strain, and sinus disorder due to new and material evidence. However, these claims are still pending as they have been remanded for further development.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of November 1, 1993 for the grant of service connection for mitral valve regurgitation with ischemic heart disease due to the Veteran's Vietnam-era exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are service connected as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus.,Major depressive disorder is service connected as it began in-service and aggravated by multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for a heart disability and increased ratings for various knee conditions. The Veteran's claim for headaches was denied, and the right heel calcaneal spur issue remains pending.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of left and right knee disabilities, as well as prostate cancer residuals and ischemic heart disease (IHD), due to the grant of these conditions in a prior rating decision. The Veteran's appeal is therefore moot.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including tinnitus, sleep apnea, skin condition, heart condition, hypertension, and foot fungus are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a heart disorder due to new and material evidence, but remanded for another VA examination to address causation.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is granted as secondary to his psychiatric impairment (adjustment disorder). The other conditions are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected conditions or other health issues, and if any of these conditions were related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to her reported exposures at Fort McClellan (FTMC) during service. The claims are related to multiple conditions including chronic hepatitis A, compromised immune system, heart condition, irritable bowel syndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and fibromyalgia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease should be remanded due to a failure to schedule and conduct a C&P examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, lung cancer, and coronary artery disease due to a lack of evidence supporting herbicide exposure during his active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during service. The AOJ is instructed to provide a map of Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base to determine if the Veteran's reported work location was within the drift zone where herbicides were sprayed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.