Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of death and exposure history. The Veteran's death is from COPD and CAD, but the exact causes are unclear.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development related to his service-connected radiation proctitis, residuals of prostate cancer, and peripheral neuropathy.,His claims for increased ratings for coronary artery disease and a gastrointestinal disorder are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, ischemic heart disease (including coronary artery disease), and PTSD prior to March 11, 2021. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's initial rating of 30 percent for PTSD prior to March 11, 2021 is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and residuals of a stroke due to new evidence indicating worsening conditions.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of death, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between the Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder and his heart condition or ultimate death. The Board considered multiple medical opinions but found them inconclusive.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's heart disorder is remanded for additional medical records and an examination to determine if it is related to his Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and instructed that VA treatment records from 2017 to present should be obtained. The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, including as due to herbicide exposure, is now pending.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted service connection as a direct result of in-service elevated blood pressure readings.,Service connection for the heart disorder is granted secondary to service-connected hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and heart disability secondary to PTSD due to a lack of adequate examination opinions addressing whether these conditions are caused or aggravated by PTSD.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 100 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) effective prior to November 25, 2012.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for COPD and entitlement to TDIU prior to June 22, 2021 due to incomplete opinions and need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for coronary artery disease and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to September 22, 2017.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, finding that there is no current diagnosis of a heart disability and noting that the Veteran did not have any functional impairment due to a heart condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left hand peripheral neuropathy or heart disability, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied. The claim for service connection for a heart disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's COPD, the severity of his CAD and pleural plaquing, and whether he should be granted a TDIU. The issues include service connection for COPD, an increased rating for CAD, and a higher evaluation for pleural plaquing.

The Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease and myocardial infarction are granted service connection, while hyperlipidemia is denied as it is not a disability for VA compensation purposes.

The appeal for service connection of a heart disorder is dismissed. The appeals for PTSD and TDIU are remanded.

The claims for service connection related to tinnitus, right knee condition, sleep deprivation, low back condition, heart condition, and stomach condition are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.