Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case to obtain a clarifying medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension, hypertensive heart disease, and heart failure. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for his service-connected left-hand fracture residuals and hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct or secondary relationship between his diagnosed condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart condition, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to potential exposure to herbicides during active duty service. The Veteran's unit is not determined as having served in or near the Korean DMZ.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, including mitral valve prolapse, due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not establish a current diagnosis of ischemic heart disease and continuity of symptomatology since service. Service connection was also not granted on a direct basis as there is no medical nexus between the current condition and in-service events or diseases.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's heart disabilities and presumed herbicide exposure in service. The Veteran is also denied service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting medical opinions and a need for further examination. The heart condition claim is related to herbicide exposure, while the peripheral neuropathy claims are not.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for a heart condition. The VA examiner is asked to provide an addendum opinion addressing the Veteran’s lay statements of chest pain as in-service injuries and continuity of symptomatology since separation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cardiac condition, finding that his conditions are not related to Agent Orange exposure and were not established during service or within one year of discharge.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating prior to December 20, 2014 and a 10 percent rating thereafter for coronary artery disease (CAD) is denied. From December 20, 2014 onwards, the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his condition has not progressed to warrant a higher classification.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD), residuals of a stroke, loss of sense of smell, and loss of sense of taste as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service or any presumptive exposure to herbicide agents.,Service connection was also denied for skin disorder due to lack of medical documentation supporting the claimed condition.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, chronic kidney disease, and coronary artery disease due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during the Vietnam era. The Veteran's claims are supported by his testimony at a hearing and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for CAD and service connection for lung disability and left foot disability are remanded due to the need for additional development, including examinations.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, lupus, syncope disorder, venous thrombosis, chronic rheumatoid arthritis, and a heart disorder, all of which were deemed not related to the appellant's period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA).

The Veteran's PTSD and IHD were denied increased ratings, but TDIU was granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD) prior to April 7, 2014 and from April 7, 2014 to April 23, 2018. The VA is instructed to obtain additional medical records and provide a retrospective opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disability and diabetes mellitus as due to herbicide exposure while stationed at Takhli RTAFB, Thailand.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, finding that his ischemic heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are related to herbicide agent exposure during active duty in Thailand.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and heart disease have been reopened. The Board has determined that further development is necessary to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides, jet fuel, or other solvents during his military service.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with the previous remand directives regarding exposure to Agent Orange. Therefore, further development is needed for all pertinent information bearing on the presence of USS Volador within the 12 nautical mile limit of the territorial waters of Vietnam.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and diabetes mellitus. The claims for service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD), joint pain, gout, and corneal abrasion are remanded for further development.