Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in excess of the assigned disability ratings have been dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for major depressive disorder.

The Board has ordered the case remanded due to issues with the VA examiner's METs estimates and the need for clarification.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for cardiac disability, higher initial ratings for left shoulder and back disabilities, and entitlement to a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's employment history needs clarification, and VA treatment records need to be obtained.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's heart conditions are secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of ischemic heart disease and a TDIU claim is being remanded to allow for additional development, including review of new VA treatment records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for an aneurysm was granted. Service connection is denied for the remaining conditions: emphysema, heart disability, prostate cancer, back disability, bilateral knee disabilities (left and right), and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (right and left).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including peripheral vascular disease and coronary artery disease, rendered him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the claim for an initial compensable rating is denied.,The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is currently rated at 10 percent from February 9, 2020. The claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent from February 15, 2019, and the claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent from February 9, 2020 are both denied.,The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is rated at 10 percent from February 9, 2020. The claims for increased ratings to higher than 30 percent from February 15, 2019 and to higher than 10 percent from February 9, 2020 are both denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is granted due to exposure to herbicides in the Korean DMZ. The claim for hearing loss remains pending as there are insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for coronary artery disease, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for gout and remanded the issue of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to active duty.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral cataracts and a higher rating for ischemic heart disease and coronary artery disease are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling examinations.

The Veteran's ovarian cysts are found to be related to her military service, and the claim for service connection is granted. The claims of initial compensable rating for migraines, service connection for a heart disorder, and service connection for a right leg disability are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have ischemic heart disease and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if he was exposed to herbicides during his service.

The Veteran's initial rating for coronary artery disease is granted at a 60 percent level, effective from December 1, 2015. A TDIU is also granted since that date.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea as the evidence did not establish an in-service injury or disease, and there was no current disability. The Veteran's claims were based on presumed continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, type II diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, and a respiratory disorder due to potential service connection based on herbicide exposure. The claims are held in abeyance pending further examination of the respiratory issue.

The Board has remanded the case for clarification of whether the Veteran has ischemic heart disease and for an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his heart condition(s).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to uncertainty about the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in Korea. The Veteran is advised to submit a letter from his fellow service-member regarding herbicide use.