Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disability, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and prostate disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for atrial fibrillation was granted. Service connection for atrial fibrillation is denied, but service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD) is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability and his heart condition. The AOJ is instructed to obtain updated treatment records and provide an addendum opinion on this matter.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various knee and gastritis disabilities, as well as a right ankle disability. The Veteran's VA treatment records from May 2019 to the present are requested, along with his Social Security Administration records.

Service connection for PTSD has been granted with a rating of 70 percent, effective from February 5, 2021.,Service connection for various conditions including heart condition, left foot condition, right and left wrist conditions, migraines, and depression have also been granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary heart disease), myocardial infarction, pulmonary hypertension, and ischemic heart disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of evidence showing in-service exposure to herbicides, and for further development regarding his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service connection claims for Type II Diabetes Mellitus, Ischemic Heart Disease, Peripheral Neuropathy of the Bilateral Lower Extremities, and Bilateral Hearing Loss have all been granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to a lack of evidence showing ischemic heart disease or PTSD as contributing causes. The Board found that the Veteran did not have IHD during his lifetime and there was no credible evidence linking his death to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were not of such severity to render him unable to secure and follow substantial gainfully occupation, consistent with his occupational history and educational attainment prior to January 14, 2014. The Board denied the claim for a TDIU prior to January 24, 2014.

The appeals seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, hypertension, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, left hip disability, left quadricep disability, heart disability, and colon cancer have been dismissed.,The appeal seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including unspecified depressive disorder), obstructive sleep apnea, and headaches has been remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and tinnitus. The claim for thyroid disorder was not addressed in this decision.,Service connection was denied for the Veteran's claimed conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to September 8, 2014.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's heart disability has been aggravated beyond normal progression by his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease status post bypass graft is denied prior to January 14, 2019. The issue of entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to substantially comply with its April 2018 remand order, which included obtaining outstanding records and a VA examination from November 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not provided to reopen the claims. The Board found no evidence of exposure to herbicides or other hazardous toxins, and there is insufficient medical evidence linking any current conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his coronary artery disease (CAD) was denied prior to May 8, 2018. However, as of that date, the VA granted him a 100 percent rating for CAD.,Additionally, effective from May 8, 2018, the Veteran also received special monthly compensation based on being housebound.

The Veteran's increased evaluation for coronary artery disease with atrial fibrillation is remanded due to the need to obtain SSA records.