Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the inextricability of his increased rating claims for service-connected conditions. The VA will consider both issues together as they may affect each other.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to January 14, 2019. Since then, he has been granted a 100 percent rating for his condition, making the issue of TDIU moot.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and hypertension, due to herbicide exposure. Additional development is required to determine if the Veteran served in Vietnam and to obtain medical records.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from March 1, 2013 until December 1, 2015 due to his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Board has denied service connection for binary lipid disease and heart disability, including CAD. The claims are being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents and the cause of his ischemic heart disease.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability and respiratory disability. The claims of service connection for these conditions are not granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development regarding service connection for hip disability and heart disability, as VA medical opinions did not address these claims.

The Veteran's tension headaches, heart disabilities, left knee and ankle disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sinus disability are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion on heart condition, herbicide exposure in Korea, and secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other disabilities rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to November 15, 2016.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted. The hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disability (including dementia and PTSD), diabetes, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and liver disability claims are all remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service connection claim for ischemic heart disease is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The claim for tonsillar cancer remains pending as it does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's heart condition and left hand numbness.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran's attorney and requests for additional information about the qualifications of the VA examiners.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's heart condition and its relationship to his in-service gunshot wound. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to address these issues.

Prior to March 21, 2017, the Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent and denied a higher rating.,From March 21, 2017, the Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent and denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's lumbar strain was rated at 10 percent and denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD) was rated at 30 percent and denied a higher rating.,The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from substantially gainful employment prior to August 14, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for ischemic heart disease was denied as the evidence did not show congestive heart failure, left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction less than 30%, or more than one episode of acute congestive heart failure in the past year.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disability was denied as there is no credible evidence linking his current condition to his period of active service.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, and type 2 diabetes mellitus due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.