Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, ischemic heart disease, PTSD with alcohol use disorder, shrapnel wound of the left upper extremity, and tinnitus, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation during the appeal period from August 15, 2018 to August 8, 2019. As such, TDIU was granted for this period.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error regarding the Veteran's exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The VA needs to provide an addendum medical opinion to determine if any of the conditions listed contributed to the Veteran's death and are related to his service at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's heart condition, including ischemic heart disease and hypertension, is granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure during his active duty in Vietnam. The hypertension claim is also granted based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to August 22, 2013 was denied as there is no evidence that the disability rendered him unemployable.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for DEA benefits prior to August 22, 2013 was also denied due to lack of a permanent total service-connected disability.

The Veteran's cause of death was not related to service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's DIC claim under U.S.C. §1318 was denied as he did not meet the criteria for continuous total disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and new evidence has been received to support the reopening of his claims. However, the Board finds that there is not a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including insomnia, major depressive disorder, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, and anxiety disorder) was granted due to new and material evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum rating available.,For the period prior to September 14, 2020, the Veteran's left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve peripheral neuropathy are each rated at 10 percent. After September 14, 2020, they are both rated at 40 percent.,The Veteran is granted a TDIU for the period prior to October 5, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, heart disease (ischemic), and an acquired psychiatric disability have been granted.,The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms of hypertension began during active service and continued thereafter.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease (CAD), atrial fibrillation, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorder, and any kidney disorder are remanded due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to new theories of entitlement and requests for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's heart disability, including whether it is related to his service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of ten percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease is remanded due to inadequate compliance with the Board's September 2022 remand directives.

The Board has granted service connection for a cardiovascular disability, including mitral and tricuspid regurgitation, valvular heart disease, cardiomegaly, chest pain and shortness of breath. The decision finds that the Veteran's current cardiac disability is related to his service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's heart disorder is related to his in-service herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating for diabetes mellitus, direct service connection for right-knee disorder, and service connection for hypertensive heart disease as a result of exposure to an herbicide agent are all remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including coronary artery disease, type II diabetes mellitus, prostate gland injury status post cancer residuals, and erectile dysfunction. The claims are now resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and an acquired psychiatric disorder diagnosed as major depressive disorder have been granted. The criteria are met for entitlement to service connection on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents in Korea during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for service-connected coronary artery disease from August 1, 2018, to July 13, 2022. The AOJ must ensure that a retrospective explanation is provided for the reason(s) that a laboratory determination of METs by exercise testing was not completed at the time of the October 2018 VA examination.

The Veteran's heart disease is being reviewed to determine if it is related to service. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered after this determination.

The Veteran's heart disease is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, and he is granted a TDIU since February 7, 2018.

The Veteran's initial rating for CAD status post coronary artery bypass surgery and myocardial infarction was denied as his METs level did not meet the criteria for a higher than 30 percent or 60 percent rating.,A compensable initial rating of 20 percent was granted for left leg venous insufficiency.