Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) is rated at 30 percent, but he seeks a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease was denied as the evidence did not show symptoms worse than a workload from 7 to 10 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope.,The effective date for service connection of small cell lung cancer was granted on September 27, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for a heart condition, including complete blockage of the left subclavian artery, atherosclerosis, and carotid artery narrowing.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the case must be remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's heart disability is secondary to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's heart condition and hypertension were not incurred in service, nor are they related to his military service.,Right ear SNHL was not incurred in service or due to exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's low back condition, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, type II, varicose veins, peripheral vascular disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities were also not related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an incomplete record, specifically a February 9, 2015 radiology report. The Veteran's heart disability claim will be returned for further development and evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and medical nexus opinions regarding his claimed conditions, including coronary artery disease, acquired psychiatric disorder, neurobehavioral effects, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, bilateral hand neuropathy, stroke, erectile dysfunction, and prostate disability. The claims are related to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied as an effective date prior to May 8, 2013 is not possible because the service connection for the underlying disabilities occurred after that date.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions were dismissed. The claim of a disability rating greater than 70 percent for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood was denied, but the Veteran received TDIU benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of December 10, 2002 for service connection of coronary artery disease due to Agent Orange exposure. The Board found that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the rating decision as the earliest claim for CAD was received on September 10, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not cause the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, as his physical impairments are due to nonservice-connected conditions.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for ischemic heart disease prior to December 18, 2018 was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher than 60 percent disability rating.,The reduction of the Veteran’s prostate cancer from 100% to 20% effective February 1, 2013 was upheld by operation of law under Diagnostic Code 7528. The Veteran's prostate cancer is currently rated as 20% due to voiding dysfunction resulting in urine leakage which requires the use of absorbent materials that must be changed less than twice per day and his increased urinary frequency resulting in nighttime awakening to void three to four times.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to July 22, 2011. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for coronary artery disease and obstructive sleep apnea due to a lack of VA treatment records from 1978 to 2003. The Veteran will be provided with another opportunity to obtain these records, or if they cannot be obtained, the case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's prostate condition, heart conditions, and diabetes mellitus were denied service connection due to lack of exposure to Agent Orange during his military service.

The Veteran's initial rating for ischemic heart disease was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating from March 29, 2012 to November 4, 2017. From March 1, 2018 onwards, he is rated at 60 percent due to his symptoms and work capacity.

The Veteran's right knee disability is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected condition.,The Veteran's heart disability and diabetes mellitus type II are remanded due to a duty to assist error in not verifying herbicide exposure during service.,The Veteran's heart disability and diabetes mellitus type II are remanded due to a duty to assist error in not verifying herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's hypertension and heart disease.