Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting evidence regarding whether the Veteran currently has obstructive sleep apnea. The examiner will be asked to clarify this and provide opinions on whether the service-connected disabilities or medications prescribed for them caused obesity, if obesity was a factor in causing sleep apnea, and what would have happened without the service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus is dismissed. Service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted.

The Veteran's atherosclerotic vascular disease and coronary artery disease are granted as secondary to service-connected hypertension. The effective date for the award of GERD is denied, but an initial compensable rating for GERD is also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for CAD and myocardial infarction, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or to his service-connected major depressive disorder. The claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected MDD was granted with a 50% rating effective July 9, 2019.

The Veteran's post-myocardial infarction coronary artery disease (CAD) is rated at 30 percent effective January 26, 2021. The rating was increased from a previous 10 percent rating.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee disability, heart disability, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy. Service connection for PTSD is remanded due to the need for a retrospective opinion on its onset and etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease and B-cell lymphoma due to insufficient development of evidence. The VA will need to obtain addendum opinions from a VA examiner regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions, specifically whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral arterial disease were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a heart disability and remanded the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to November 20, 2020. Additional development is required.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart condition and hypertension, to include as secondary to heart condition due to new evidence received since the last denial. The Veteran's heart condition claim will be further evaluated with an additional VA opinion regarding whether there was a superimposed disease or injury on her heart murmur during military service that resulted in additional disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left eye and heart conditions due to incomplete opinions in previous examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, which is related to his heart disorder and cardiovascular disorders.

The Board has denied service connection for coronary artery disease and remanded the issue of tinnitus, as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran is seeking a higher disability rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD). The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistent findings on examination and failure to explain why an assessment of work capacity in METs by exercise testing could not be performed.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for CAD prior to February 26, 2002 was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,For the period from June 1, 2002 to January 29, 2003, the Veteran's CAD was rated at 60 percent due to its severity and impact on daily activities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and colon cancer, as secondary to a service-connected psycho-physiological musculoskeletal reaction. The case is returned to the Board for an addendum VA medical opinion addressing whether these conditions are proximately due or have been aggravated by the service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by ischemic heart disease, which is presumed to be related to his service due to herbicide exposure. As a result, service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death is granted.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of rheumatic fever disorder and heart disorder due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for HTN prior to October 12, 2011 has been denied.,A 10 percent disability rating for HTN from October 12, 2011 to November 8, 2016 has been granted.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for CAD prior to November 9, 2016 is remanded.