Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Board has dismissed all claims related to service connection for heart condition and hearing loss, as well as initial disability ratings and effective dates for unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder and frostbite residuals of the Veteran's bilateral upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and cause of death (due to congestive heart failure) are granted as service-connected. PTSD is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinea pedis of the right foot, heart disability, and respiratory disability due to inadequate medical opinions addressing aggravation and causality.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to the Veteran's service connection and rating appeals, as well as his request for TDIU. The appeal is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the claims for coronary artery disease, ischemic heart disease, supraventricular arrhythmias (claimed as rapid ventricular rhythm), and atrial fibrillation due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran's service connection claim must be reconsidered with a new VA examination that addresses his exposure to trichloroethylene during service.

The Veteran's coronary atherosclerosis with aortic stenosis, status post coronary artery bypass graft was granted an initial rating of 30 percent from March 18, 2005 to November 3, 2005 and from March 1, 2006 to July 6, 2017.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's initial rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence and hearing testimony. The claim will be reconsidered by the RO.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as of August 3, 2020. The TDIU rating is granted for this period.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for amyloidosis and increased ratings for ischemic heart disease, as well as TDIU prior to May 17, 2017. The case will be returned to the RO for further review.

The Board denied service connection for high blood pressure, heart disorder, and left knee disorder as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss was also denied because the Veteran did not meet the VA criteria for a current diagnosis of hearing loss in that ear.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one is needed for a determination of whether the Veteran's heart condition began during or was caused by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the lack of medical records and bills from Penrose Hospital for treatment from November 2 to November 28, 2012. The Board will make reasonable attempts to obtain these records before making a decision on the merits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II (DM), and a heart condition or chest pain resulting in functional impairment due to inadequate medical opinions provided by VA examiners. The examiners were directed to provide opinions on whether these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated beyond their natural progression by service-connected psychiatric disorder, as well as whether obesity is an intermediate step between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's disability rating for arteriosclerotic heart disease has been restored to 30 percent effective March 1, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disorder, diabetes mellitus, and heart disorder (secondary to diabetes mellitus) due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claims of service connection for heart disease and hypertension can be adjudicated. The case must be remanded to obtain VA medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service-connected migraine syndrome.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service at U-Tapao and thus presumptively entitled to this condition.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings for erectile dysfunction, coronary artery disease, and type II diabetes mellitus as the Veteran's representative withdrew these claims during a hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's mastectomy is not service connected as it was due to gynecomastia, which may be caused by alcohol use. The Board finds the evidence does not support a finding that the mastectomy is related to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,The Veteran has COPD and lung nodules since 2015. The VA examiner found no evidence of hepatic steatosis being confirmed by a physician other than the radiologist, but there was an indication from a January 2015 treatment note that it may be related to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,The Veteran has a heart condition and COPD since 2015. The VA examiner found no evidence of hepatic steatosis being confirmed by a physician other than the radiologist, but there was an indication from a January 2015 treatment note that it may be related to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,The Veteran has lung nodules since 2015. The VA examiner found no evidence of hepatic steatosis being confirmed by a physician other than the radiologist, but there was an indication from a January 2015 treatment note that it may be related to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,The Veteran has hepatic steatosis since 2015. The VA examiner found no evidence of hepatic steatosis being confirmed by a physician other than the radiologist, but there was an indication from a January 2015 treatment note that it may be related to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.