Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Board dismissed the appeals for reducing the evaluation of coronary artery disease and entitlement to TDIU due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the claims for SMC based on need for aid and attendance, higher ratings for sciatic nerve radiculopathy of both lower extremities, and a higher rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The VA is required to obtain additional medical records and provide an addendum to the previous examinations regarding the Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 USC chapter 35 was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his heart disability is being remanded due to the omission of VA treatment records from January 29, 2020 to March 24, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in his inability to secure and maintain employment consistent with his occupational history, leading to a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his inability to perform daily activities such as feeding, dressing, bathing, and attending to personal hygiene needs. The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease due to presumed herbicide agent exposure. The issues of service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity neurological disability (idiopathic peripheral neuropathy) and recurrent sleep disability (obstructive sleep apnea) are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease warrants a disability rating in excess of 60 percent, and the Board has decided to remand this issue for further evaluation. The TDIU claim is granted.

Service connection is granted for prostate cancer, coronary artery disease (CAD), and diabetes, all presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and atrial flutter, finding no evidence of bypass surgery or ischemic heart disease. The Board also found that the current heart conditions are not related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and right hip arthritis have been granted. The remaining issues, including increased ratings for various finger disabilities and TDIU, are remanded for further development.

The Board has restored service connection for heart disease, finding that the original grant was not due to clear and unmistakable error.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation since January 31, 2008. The Board has granted an extraschedular TDIU rating for this period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cold injury sequela peripheral sensory neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy/carpal tunnel syndrome are being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an anxiety disorder is being remanded, as well as his eligibility for benefits for the period from August 22, 2013 to March 1, 2018. The TDIU prior to September 19, 2018 is also being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of a TDIU is inextricably intertwined with these issues and must be addressed as well.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his ischemic heart disease, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent from May 1, 2014 to March 31, 2020 or higher than 60 percent from March 31, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or any link between the conditions and service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request for earlier effective dates for his awards of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status. The appeal is also remanded to address the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual employability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient consideration of relevant evidence, including statements from fellow servicemembers and a Veteran's own statements about his symptoms during service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to failure to consider evidence of the Veteran's diagnosed medical conditions during his April 1, 1997 claim for benefits and whether it may reasonably be construed as the same covered herbicide disease for which compensation has been awarded under Nehmer v. U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to be due to in-service herbicide exposure, and service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted.