Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Board has decided that the Veteran's cause of death, coronary artery disease, is not related to his active service and will be remanded for further review.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease and/or diabetes mellitus caused his stroke. As a result, the claim for service connection for residuals of a stroke is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's heart disorder, which may be related to service or herbicide exposure. A new examination is needed to determine if there is a relationship between the Veteran's heart disorders and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes and hypertension were reopened due to the submission of new evidence. Service connection is granted for a lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as spondylolisthesis.,Service connection is granted for left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy, both secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, to include ischemic heart disease, due to herbicide exposure or medication prescribed by VA treatment providers. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claim of a direct link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disability, peripheral neuropathy of the right hand, peripheral neuropathy of the left hand, and insomnia due to insufficient evidence in previous examinations.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, heart condition, and diabetes mellitus as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability is remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of his occupational limitations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding that there was no evidence of service in the Republic of Vietnam or exposure to herbicide agents. The Board concluded that the Veteran did not have an in-service event, injury, or disease related to his current condition.

The Veteran's heart disability, including myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease, is presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service in Thailand.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, type II diabetes mellitus (DM), and a heart disorder due to incomplete records. The Veteran's SSA disability benefits records are needed.

The Veteran's need for a higher level of aid and attendance, necessitating hospitalization or other institutional care, is granted from April 8, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disability and a gastrointestinal disability, finding that the evidence supports an in-service onset of these conditions.

The Veteran's COPD is granted as service connected. The Board finds the evidence to be in approximate balance and grants service connection for COPD. Other issues of service connection are remanded.

The Board has determined that the April 2022 VA examination is inadequate and remands the case for a new examination to determine if any current heart disability is related to service, including on a presumptive basis.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU from December 3, 2014 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and the possibility of obtaining additional treatment records. The Veteran asserts he should receive an increased disability rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and COPD have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or asbestos. The Board found that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and thus could not be presumed exposed to herbicides. Additionally, his symptoms were not shown to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received since the last SSOC, and the AOJ must consider this additional information in their review of service connection for a cardiovascular disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA scars examination to determine if there are any further criteria met under the Diagnostic Codes for scars that would warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.