Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Board dismissed all appeals due to the Veteran's death, including those for PTSD, prostate cancer, anemia, and ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, chronic diarrhea, ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy, and PTSD with depression and anxiety, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's claim of a higher initial rating for coronary artery disease.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and its residuals of stroke, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty at Royal Thai Air Force Base Udorn qualifies him for presumptive service connection. The Board also found that the Veteran's stroke was secondary to his service-connected ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected ischemic heart disease are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, low back arthritis, and bilateral lower extremity sciatica as secondary to service-connected disabilities. Service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD) and hypertension have been denied.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 10, 2015 for service connection for CAD is denied. The Veteran was granted a 60 percent rating for his CAD in March 2019. Service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 60 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted, but his claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to service connected CAD is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link between his current diagnoses and in-service chest pain.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) is denied. The Board found that there were no pending but unadjudicated claims for CAD prior to February 19, 2019 and therefore an earlier effective date is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's tinnitus and heart disease are granted service connection, while bilateral hearing loss and left knee disability are denied. Hyperlipidemia is not considered a disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his Vietnam service.

The Veteran's appeal for total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities has been dismissed as he withdrew the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease status post myocardial infarction. The issue of service connection for multiple cysts or residuals of multiple cysts, to include on the right shoulder, front left shoulder, and below right eyebrow, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure is remanded.

The Veteran's CAD was rated at 30 percent from March 1, 2014 to August 1, 2015.,From August 1, 2015 to September 24, 2018, the Veteran received a 100 percent rating for his CAD.,After September 24, 2018, the Veteran's CAD was rated at 60 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's heart condition, particularly as related to his conceded herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for cause of death and DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for heart condition and hypertension, including as secondary to a heart condition. The claims are being returned for additional development, such as obtaining updated VA treatment records and contacting the Veteran.