Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lung cancer, coronary artery disease, and diabetes due to incomplete development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cardiac disability, including as due to in-service exposure to an herbicide agent. The evidence did not support a finding of a current disability related to active service or any incident of service.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is rated at 60 percent from March 27, 2016. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was remanded.

The appeal seeking service connection for multiple conditions has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding service connection for coronary artery disease as it was granted by the AOJ in a November 2020 rating decision.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is granted because the evidence shows it is at least as likely as not caused by his exposure to herbicides during active military service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted as the evidence shows that his high cholesterol and hyperlipidemia in service caused his CAD, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's initial rating for ischemic heart disease from July 15, 2010 to March 5, 2017 was denied. From March 6, 2017, a higher rating of 60 percent was granted.,Service connection for the right knee condition is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records from a cardiologist in Brick, New Jersey.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% rating for coronary artery disease, finding that it is not factually ascertainable that his condition worsened within a year prior to December 29, 2015.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder and cerebrovascular accident, finding that the Veteran's in-service chest pain was attributed to heavy coffee consumption, strenuous work or exercise, and pneumonia. The absence of medical complaints for approximately 32 years also supported this decision.

The appeal concerning entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is dismissed.,The appeals concerning initial increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD are dismissed.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to November 20, 2020 and has remanded the issue of service connection for heart disability. The case is now REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), and diabetes mellitus, type II (DM II) have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings of his coronary artery disease (CAD) and residuals of prostate cancer were denied. The ED claim was also denied.,For CAD, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to March 26, 2019, or from that date onwards. For prostate cancer, the Veteran's condition did not warrant an increased rating prior to June 2, 2020, but was rated at 20% thereafter.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a left eye disorder, heart condition, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine due to incomplete or insufficient evidence. The appeals are now pending with VA for further review.

The Board denied an increased rating for coronary artery disease, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant a higher evaluation under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records that may be relevant to his disability benefits.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death, finding that coronary artery disease was causally related to his active service and therefore warranting DIC benefits.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, to reopen a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back condition, as well as the claims for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity. The Veteran's death was caused by his neurological condition, which is presumed to have been related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,The Board has also granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.