Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) is currently rated at 30 percent since August 27, 2013. The Board finds that the severity of his CAD does not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence from August 31, 2010, through August 26, 2013, and since August 27, 2013.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the claims for coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure due to potential asbestos exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart and gastroesophageal disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the onset of these conditions during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of ischemic heart disease was granted with an effective date of February 27, 2008. The condition was found to be related to exposure to Agent Orange during his Vietnam service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and its complications, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has found that additional development is required before the Veteran's claim for entitlement to service connection for a heart condition, including hypertension, can be adjudicated.

The Veteran's hypertensive heart disease is granted as secondary to his service-connected hypertension. The claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine prior to December 23, 2019 remains denied. Service connection for a cervical spine disability, related to a service-connected lumbar spine disability, is remanded.

The Veteran did not have sufficient wartime active duty service for survivor pension benefits.,There is no evidence that the Veteran's death was caused by a service-connected disability, and he had no pending claims for compensation at the time of his death.,The Appellant's application for nonservice-connected burial benefits was denied as she did not personally pay for the Veteran's burial expenses.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating of her service-connected left shoulder disability has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart condition and left hand condition have been remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, hypertension, blood clots, and vasculitis have been denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure or in-service injury. The Board found that the Veteran did not serve within Vietnam and thus could not establish exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has determined that there may be outstanding relevant treatment and personnel records from the Veteran's period of service and thereafter, and therefore remanded for further action.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction. The appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA and private treatment records, as well as new VA examinations to evaluate his heart disability, amebiasis, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has found the November 2020 VA examination opinion inadequate for adjudication purposes and remanded for an addendum opinion applying the correct standard of evaluation for secondary service connection via aggravation. The remaining claims are also remanded as they may be impacted by the hypertension claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease and skin cancer, both presumed due to herbicide agent exposure, is granted. The rating assigned is 100%.

The Veteran's death was not due to his own willful misconduct, and he had a service-connected disability rated as totally disabling for at least one year immediately preceding his death. However, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 because his total disability rating was less than ten years prior to his death.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of sleep apnea and an increased rating for CAD, so the claims are dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a link between any of these conditions and military service.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral knee disorder due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.,The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a heart disorder, as it is unclear whether the Veteran's current heart condition is related to his military service or exposure to contaminants at Fort Polk.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and no established continuity of symptomatology. The VA examiner concluded that any current heart disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's headaches are secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease.