Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, hypertension as secondary to PTSD, and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's other conditions are also found to be related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and remanded the issue of a higher initial rating for coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction residuals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate, heart, diabetes mellitus, COPD, and bilateral eye disabilities due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection. The VA is required to obtain new medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease on a presumptive basis due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has decided to remand four claims for service connection due to the need for additional development regarding herbicide agent exposure and VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, coronary artery disease, and type II diabetes mellitus on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, heart disability, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives. Additional development is required including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new addendum opinion from a VA clinician.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD, secondary service connection for a heart disability status post implanted cardiac pacemaker with sick sinus syndrome as secondary to PTSD and obstructive sleep apnea, and secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran is granted a 100 percent rating for ischemic heart disease from November 1, 1993, to March 25, 2010.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of coronary artery disease is granted, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents, including for coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction secondary to those conditions, and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded for further development, including verification of the Veteran's alleged service in Vietnam and proximity to the base perimeter.

The Board has granted service connection for heart disease as secondary to PTSD, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether PTSD aggravated the Veteran's heart condition.,Service connection for uterine fibroids was denied due to lack of a causal link between the conditions.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, hypertension, and coronary artery disease (CAD) as secondary to hypertension. The issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and higher initial rating for ischemic heart disease (CAD) is granted. The case is remanded to determine the appropriate rating for the period from May 8, 2002 to June 14, 2015.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, alone, were not of sufficient severity to render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to February 21, 2014.

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

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart disorder and diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure, as they did not explicitly assess the credibility of the Veteran's statements about in-service herbicide exposure. The AOJ is required to verify the claimed exposure.

The Board dismissed the veteran's claims for service connection due to his death during the appeal process.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for stroke residuals, finding that there is no evidence of a direct link to his military service or secondary to his service-connected conditions. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence linking the Veteran's stroke to herbicide exposure.