Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the current severity of hypertension and nature and etiology of heart disease, including whether it is related to service-connected hypertension or any other pre-existing conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a cardiovascular disorder, finding that the current disorders are not causally or etiologically related to service and do not meet any of the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for disability manifested by dizziness, including peripheral vestibular disorder. The Veteran's current diagnosis is chronic recurrent vertigo and chronic dizziness.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and heart condition as secondary to service-connected acquired psychiatric disability. The claims for vertigo and vision disability are also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of fibromyalgia, right calf disability, left calf disability, or right thigh disability. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.,The Veteran's heart condition claim is remanded as there was inadequate examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed heart condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in a need of regular aid and attendance, which the Board finds warrants special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's CAD was granted a 60% rating for the period from October 19, 2012 to December 10, 2015 and a 100% rating from December 11, 2015 onwards. The initial ratings prior to these dates were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, CAD, and hearing loss, have resulted in unemployability. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions. The issues include left eye disability, sinus disability, heart disability (including as secondary to knee disabilities), and stroke.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for a heart condition, as chest pain and heart attack. Service connection is denied for a neurological disorder of the extremities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left leg bursitis, left arm bursitis, heart disorder, stroke residuals, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea due to inadequate analysis of his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to his military service and concluding that the weight of the evidence did not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for aortic valvular heart disease is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The claim for service connection of ischemic heart disease is reopened and remanded. The rating for PTSD and the TDIU are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining clarification of the Veteran's employment history and a VA examination to assess the combined impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease as secondary to bronchial asthma with COPD, a rating in excess of 10 percent for left-hand disability, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service connection for a lung nodule and valvular heart disease was granted with an effective date of March 25, 2017.,Service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorder was granted with an effective date of March 25, 2017.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinion is inadequate and remands the case for further development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion from a qualified VA clinician to determine if the Veteran's valvular heart disease and cardiomyopathy are congenital or due to service exposure.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for a permanent and total rating, which allows him to withdraw the appeal.