Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease was granted effective November 1, 1999. However, the initial disability rating of 30 percent prior to December 13, 2010, is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's employment history and the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work. The Veteran will need to provide more details about his employment, and he will be scheduled for VA examinations to assess the severity of his IHD and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for compensation benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for dissection of the right coronary artery, caused by a cardiac catheterization performed by VA in January 2006, was denied as there is no evidence that the complication was due to negligence or fault on the part of VA.

The Veteran's reduction from a 30 percent to a 10 percent rating for his coronary artery disease was improper, and the 30 percent rating is restored as of April 1, 2016. The entitlement to a higher rating for his coronary artery disease remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his in-service exposure at Camp Lejeune. The preponderance of evidence supported a conclusion that the Veteran's heart condition is not related to his military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for ischemic heart disease and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities because the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting the grant of TDIU.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to the Veteran's conditions, including Parkinson's disease, tremors of various extremities, and coronary artery disease. The appeals were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD), finding that his condition is manifested by a workload of greater than 5 METs but not greater than 7 METs resulting in dyspnea, which aligns with a 30 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, to include as secondary to CAD and hypertension due to a new theory of entitlement raised by the Veteran's representative.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure in Thailand, specifically burn pit exposure.

The Veteran's heart disease is rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating as the evidence does not support an extra-schedular evaluation.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a stomach condition and heart condition were denied. The claim for stomach condition was reopened due to new evidence, but the service connection was still denied. The claim for heart condition was also denied.

The Board has ordered a remand for the Veteran to be evaluated again due to inadequate medical opinions regarding his service connection claims. The new VA examination and opinions are needed to determine if the Veteran's heart disease, atrial fibrillation, and hypertension were caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board dismissed the appeals for effective dates due to the death of the Veteran and his surviving spouse, as they do not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a heart attack are not secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability, and thus denied the claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for coronary artery disease, liver disease including hepatitis, compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for stomach and esophageal abnormalities as a result of VA treatment, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD due to inadequate medical opinions and missing records.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for Ischemic Heart Disease and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder were granted, with the IHD receiving a 30% evaluation prior to September 23, 2008, and PTSD receiving a 70% evaluation thereafter. The appeals related to service connection for vascular disease, arthritis of the hips, legs, and back, and TDIU are still pending.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and CAD were granted effective July 17, 2015. The Board found that the Veteran had these conditions by this date and VA was estopped from treating his September 2015 supplemental claim as incomplete.

The Veteran's initial rating for coronary artery disease was granted at 60 percent, effective April 12, 2011. From March 30, 2016, the Veteran is also entitled to SMC due to having multiple service-connected disabilities rated at 60% or more.