Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease and central retinal artery occlusion due to herbicide exposure as they are not fully responsive with respect to the Veteran's diagnoses.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a disease or injury incurred in service, and the conditions claimed are not presumed to be related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to July 1, 2020 is being remanded due to the need for clarification of his employment status and earnings during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeals have been remanded for further evaluation of various service-connected conditions, including sleep apnea, mood disorder, and thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease. The effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher award of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities separate from his left leg amputation with loss of use of the left hand was denied. The Board found that none of his other service-connected disabilities, independent of his left leg amputation, require the regular need for aid and assistance.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU from March 26, 2014 to February 7, 2018 is denied as he has not established that he was not engaged in substantially gainful employment during this period.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development of evidence related to the Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a heart disability has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including myasthenia gravis, heart condition, peripheral neuropathy, knee conditions, sleep apnea, lymphedema, skin cancer, blisters, and rashes. The evidence did not establish herbicide exposure or show the conditions had their onset in service.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and CABG surgery is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that VA carelessness or negligence caused her condition.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, coronary artery disease (CAD), thyroid condition, diabetes mellitus, and ventricular arrhythmias all related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, b-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, diabetes mellitus, and ischemic heart disease are granted. However, his claim for service connection for leukemia is denied due to lack of a diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a new addendum medical opinion to address the nature and etiology of his claimed cardiac disorder, specifically whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected psoriasis and PTSD with alcohol and cannabis abuse disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bradycardia, hypertensive heart disease, ischemic heart disease, and restless leg syndrome have been granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending as new evidence has reopened the claim but no definitive opinion was provided regarding its etiology.

The Board dismissed all appeals regarding the Veteran's claims for various conditions and ratings, as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, finding that the Veteran's in-service symptoms of chest pain and elevated cholesterol are related to his current diagnosis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's heart disability, including coronary artery disease, may be related to herbicide exposure during service and is remanded for further action.

The Veteran is seeking a TDIU rating due to his service-connected heart disability, but the current evidence does not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU. The Board has determined that referral for extra-schedular consideration is warranted and additional development is needed.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's surviving spouse is receiving the maximum DIC rate due to her husband being rated totally disabled for 10 years prior to his death, and she does not qualify for additional benefits based on need or other factors.