Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case to determine when the Veteran's coronary artery disease reached a severity level consistent with the estimated METs level from the January 2017 VA examination, which would allow for an appropriate rating before January 12, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected supraventricular arrhythmia and valvular heart disease are being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and associated heart, kidney, and right eye conditions due to inadequate VA examination reports and failure to obtain relevant medical records.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal, and thus has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart condition and remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim.

The Veteran's PTSD alone prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate. The issues of increased ratings for other service-connected disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition, skin condition, and low back disability have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.,Service connection has not been established for any of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for heart disability, urinary disability, bilateral foot disability, right leg disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or herbicide exposure.,For each condition, the decision states that there is no direct evidence showing a relationship between the condition and service. The Veteran's assertions were not considered sufficient to establish a nexus with Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus (diabetes) and ischemic heart disease have been granted.,Service connection has also been remanded for the Veteran's pulmonary conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation from June 27, 2013 to August 30, 2018. The Board granted the TDIU during this period.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease, cognitive disorder (short-term memory loss and mental issues), and multiple transient ischemic attacks due to potential exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The RO is instructed to seek further evidence from official sources regarding the Veteran’s alleged exposure.

The Board has remanded cases for further factual development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides while serving aboard the USS ZELIMA, as it is unclear whether he served within 12 nautical miles of the Republic of Vietnam or any similar area identified in the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for ischemic heart disease (CAD) was denied. The current effective date is February 2, 2017, when the disability rating was increased to 60 percent.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, heart condition, and diabetes mellitus as the evidence did not support a link to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cause of death, DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, and accrued benefits due to a lack of a Statement of the Case on these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and CAD prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to February 11, 2009. The Board found the evidence at least in equipoise as to whether he was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's 60 percent rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) was restored, effective from August 1, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease, finding that there is no evidence linking his current conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes, hypertension, liver condition (hemochromatosis and fatty liver disease), and heart condition (coronary artery disease and mild aortic sclerosis) due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection. The VA is required to obtain addendum opinions addressing these issues.

The Board has already granted service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, so there are no remaining issues to decide.