Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically regarding the cause of death and whether service-connected coronary artery disease contributed to or aggravated non-service-connected lung cancer.

The Board has remanded the claims for heart disability, diabetes mellitus, and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient development of medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and lack of compliance with previous remands. The Veteran's heart condition, including ischemic heart disease, pericardial effusion, and status-post pericardiocentesis, is being evaluated for service connection on alternative theories.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's heart disorder from April 23, 2010, finding that the evidence did not show more than one episode of acute congestive heart failure or less than a 5 METs workload resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope.

The Veteran's service connection claim for ischemic heart disease, including atherosclerosis of the aorta, is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is able to perform sedentary work with flexibility for position shifts and breaks.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's coronary artery disease is related to service. The VA examiner must provide a new opinion on the onset and etiology of any diagnosed heart disabilities, including consideration of the July 1987 notation of a heart murmur since infancy and January 1991 treatment for a fast heartbeat.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection claims due to his death. The appeal is dismissed as there are no surviving parties eligible to continue the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a heart condition, finding that there was no direct evidence linking his current heart conditions to his military service. The Board also found insufficient evidence to support secondary service connection due to PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for ischemic heart disease prior to March 28, 2019 has been denied. However, a 60 percent rating is granted as of that date.

The Board dismissed all claims for service connection due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are granted. The claim for service connection for major depressive disorder is remanded. The claim for service connection for hypothyroidism is dismissed as moot.

The Board has not found substantial compliance with previous remand directives and requires further efforts to verify the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The issues of service connection for Parkinson's disease, hypertension, and a heart disability are being remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of a heart disability. Service connection was granted for diabetes, presumed due to exposure to herbicides while stationed at U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death, and no service connection was granted or denied.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's heart conditions, including whether his preexisting aortic insufficiency was aggravated during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during or were related to active service.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his death to his military service.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease and hypertension are granted as secondary to his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's appeal was not perfected in a timely manner, as no valid and timely substantive appeal was received within the required timeframe.