Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the cases due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remands and insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for dermatitis is granted. The appeal is granted to that extent only, as the initial rating for PTSD is granted at 70 percent and an effective date prior to June 8, 2016 is denied. An earlier effective date of June 8, 2015 for coronary artery disease bypass scar is granted, but no effective date prior to June 8, 2016 for service connection for allergic rhinitis or PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's foot fungus is not related to service, and his coronary artery disease warrants a 100% rating from March 19, 2019.,His headaches and cerebrovascular accident are currently under review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim due to issues with proper notice and development, including verifying his current address and obtaining necessary medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need to determine if he served within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam, which would allow him to receive the presumption of exposure to herbicide agents. If so, an examination will be scheduled to determine the nature and etiology of any hypertension condition.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for CABG residuals and an increased rating for asthmatic bronchitis, as well as the issue of TDIU. The reasons include the need to obtain a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's heart disease and December 2005 coronary artery bypass surgery.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, including peripheral vascular disease and valvular heart disease, finding that there was no nexus between his current conditions and his active service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the claims for a heart disability, PTSD, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The VA is required to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's heart disability, including whether it was related to service or service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including a right leg disorder, bilateral shoulder disorders, back disorder, bilateral hip disorders, bilateral hearing loss, heart disorder, erectile dysfunction, and headache disorder. The appeals are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for ischemic heart disease was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating since June 8, 2013.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition and awarded him a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The heart condition is considered to be directly related to service, with consideration given to the Veteran's lay statements about symptoms during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in determining the Veteran's service location and exposure to herbicides, requiring further development including obtaining an opinion on heart conditions and verifying herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation during the period on appeal prior to May 4, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable for the period prior to January 9, 2020. The Board found that he maintained employment through at least early 2020 and his contentions were outweighed by the opinions of VA examiners.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's case due to insufficient medical opinions and additional development is needed to determine if his cardiovascular disabilities are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of residuals of triple bypass surgery, including coronary artery disease (CAD), as secondary to his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to October 3, 2015 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of heart disability, Crohn's disease, and insulin dependent diabetes due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, a heart disability (left ventricular hypertrophy), and diabetes mellitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of diabetes mellitus, TDIU prior to October 30, 2018, and SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status are remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and a medical opinion.