Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Veteran did not have any pending claims or unpaid benefits at the time of his death, so he could not be entitled to accrued benefits.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a heart condition, to include as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder, has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and arranging for an addendum to the January 2021 VA examination report. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's death is being remanded for a cardiac evaluation to determine if ischemic heart disease qualifies as service-connected and contributed to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives. The heart condition claim is being remanded for a new VA examination, while the erectile dysfunction claim remains in remand status as it is intertwined with the heart condition claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and whether his service-connected disabilities aggravated or caused his coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease was denied. The claim was granted on a presumptive basis under the Agent Orange Act of 1991, but the Board found that no earlier effective date could be assigned as there is no evidence showing the Veteran filed a claim within one year of his separation from active service in October 1967 or before May 3, 1989. The appeal for other conditions was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum VA medical opinion to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed coronary artery disease (CAD), including whether it is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure during service. The issues of increased ratings for radiculopathy and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's disability rating for service-connected coronary artery disease was reduced from 60 to 10 percent by a June 2016 rating decision. The Board found the examination inadequate and remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease is currently rated at 30 percent, effective July 5, 2020. The Board denied an increased rating for the condition prior to that date and also denied service connection for nerve problems in the neck causing pain in the right arm.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression. The reasons are that there were inadequate nexus opinions provided by VA examiners.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, heart condition, hypertension, and respiratory condition due to potential in-service exposure to herbicide agents and/or JP4 jet fuel. The Veteran's service records indicate he worked on aircraft during his active duty.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to atherosclerotic heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, finding that these conditions were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to an in-service military sexual trauma during his first period of active duty service. Service connection for PTSD has been granted.,Sleep apnea is presumed to have had its onset during basic training, which occurred within the initial year after service of the Veteran's first period of honorable active duty.

The Veteran's service connection for heart disease is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents while stationed at Camp Friendship in Thailand.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected heart condition, including coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction and coronary artery bypass graft surgery, is rated at 100 percent from November 1, 2013, through July 14, 2019, and beginning January 15, 2020.,The appeal for entitlement to a TDIU due to service-connected heart condition is dismissed as the grant of a 100 percent rating has rendered it moot.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining VA treatment records and clarifying the Veteran's work history. The heart disability case is also being remanded due to a recent heart attack.