Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded for additional development. The Veteran is also seeking a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as service connected.,Coronary artery disease, type II diabetes mellitus, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia are all granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and related conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of total disability due to individual unemployability.

The Board has dismissed all claims as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the claims for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, back condition, and heart disability due to incomplete medical opinions and failure to comply with previous directives.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and erectile dysfunction. The claims of service connection for aortic valve stenosis and coronary artery disease (previously claimed as calcific aortic stenosis with chest pain), headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder including major depressive disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions on secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations. The Veteran's psychiatric claim is also remanded as new evidence suggests a DSM-5 diagnosis may be warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a heart disability should be remanded due to procedural issues, including failure to provide proper notice regarding personal assault stressors for PTSD and insufficient verification of herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran will need to undergo additional examinations and have his claims reviewed based on new evidence.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a lung disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder and PTSD), an alcohol use disorder, a kidney disability, and a heart disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology. The lung disability is presumed related to herbicide exposure. Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II has been granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease and type II diabetes mellitus, as they are related to herbicide agent exposure during service. Further development is needed to determine if the ship operated within 12 nautical miles of the Republic of Vietnam while the Veteran was aboard.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development regarding whether the Veteran served within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam and due to a need for a medical opinion on whether his service-connected disabilities contributed substantially to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, type II based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in Thailand.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including low back disability, hypertension, heart disability, stroke, left upper extremity disorder, bilateral hand disability, seizure disorder, and bowel disorder. The reasons given were that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and service or secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for heart ailment, acute respiratory failure secondary to community-acquired pneumonia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service event, illness, or injury.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical examinations and the need for a new VA examination.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for various conditions, including ischemic heart disease and stroke, due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease. The VA needs to provide an addendum opinion addressing this issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with a previous directive regarding the impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's cause of death is remanded due to uncertainty about his exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Board needs to verify if the U.S.S. Saint Paul was within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam from September 1962 to August 1964.