Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus as secondary to hypertension, and heart condition as secondary to hypertension. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service or any other service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further medical examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected coronary artery disease and scar, status post coronary artery bypass graft.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine if he had coronary artery disease (CAD) prior to January 7, 2019 for the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for heart disorder other than hypertension, including as secondary to his service-connected conditions, has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease, squamous cell carcinoma of the left parotid gland, and facial scars due to cancer surgery. The Veteran asserts that these conditions are related to herbicide exposure during active service in Vietnam. Additional development is needed to confirm whether the Veteran served at Bien Hoa in 1972 as he claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and a need for a new VA opinion regarding the cause of death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the heart disorder and respiratory disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with prior Board directives and need for additional development.

The Veteran's death was caused by esophageal cancer, but his service-connected coronary artery disease is considered a contributing cause. The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise and grants entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to various disabilities, including chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular accident, migraine headaches, male reproductive disability (to include sterility, hypogonadism and erectile dysfunction), thrombocytopenia, and hypertension. These issues are currently remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus due to new evidence received. However, further research is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents while in service on the USS Enterprise in the Gulf of Tonkin.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking his acute cardiac dysrhythmia and atherosclerotic heart disease to service.,Service connection for the right hip disability was denied due to lack of in-service diagnosis or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory disorder, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) due to alleged exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for PTSD is denied. The Veteran's initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected CAD prior to July 5, 2019, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter is remanded.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is warranted due to his symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected CAD is currently rated at 10 percent from December 17, 2012 to November 7, 2019 and at 30 percent thereafter. The claim for higher ratings for CAD is denied.,The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent. The claim for a higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, and lower extremities are all rated at 10 percent. The claims for higher ratings are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) secondary to service-connected frostbite of the bilateral feet with obesity as an intermediate step, and also granted service connection for cause of death due to metastatic gastric cancer. The decision is based on medical opinions linking the Veteran's CAD to his service-connected frostbite.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent disabling for ischemic heart disease, and the Board dismissed the case.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for nephropathy and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations to assess the current severity of his disabilities.

The Board has granted the initial grant of service connection for erectile dysfunction and special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ, but found that severance was improper. The appeal is granted in these matters. However, the appeal regarding an increased rating for arteriosclerotic heart disease remains pending as it requires further examination.