Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and heart disorder as secondary to hypertension, finding that the Veteran's preexisting hypertension did not worsen during service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee and heart disorders, finding that the evidence did not support a link to military service.

The claim for service connection for residuals of rocket fragment to the left side of his head has been reopened due to new and material evidence. The effective date is not earlier than August 13, 2012.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of August 13, 2012. An increased rating in excess of 10 percent is denied.,Coronary artery disease (CAD) due to herbicide exposure has been granted. Service connection for hypertension (HTN) and other conditions have not yet been resolved.,Service connection for chronic headaches, bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine arthritis, bilateral knee arthritis, and bilateral elbow arthritis remains pending.,Total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is also pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of any currently present heart disability, as well as the issue of service connection based on secondary service-connected disabilities. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension secondary to service-connected PTSD due to outstanding VA treatment records and an inadequate addendum medical opinion.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and a temporary total disability rating based on convalescence from heart surgery due to lack of evidence showing that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, tinnitus, and right ear hearing loss are granted. Claims for sleep apnea, diabetic cardiomyopathy, diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities, avascular necrosis, gastrointestinal disability, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic nephropathy are denied.

The Veteran's hypertension, left knee disability, residuals of gallbladder removal surgery, sleep apnea, heart condition, skin disability, headaches and dizziness, and allergic rhinitis have all been denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Issues such as entitlement to service connection for a heart condition, skin disability, headaches and dizziness, and allergic rhinitis are being remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions and further development is needed. The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, secondary to his service-connected disabilities, will be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion on whether the Veteran's current heart disorders are related to his in-service herbicide exposure or service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a heart disorder need to be reviewed again with all available evidence, including recent VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease was denied in October 2011 and became final. He filed an informal claim on August 28, 2013, which led to a grant of service connection with an effective date of August 28, 2013.

Service connection for asbestosis is granted.,Service connection for cause of death due to asbestosis is granted.,Service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to asbestos exposure is remanded.,Service connection for diabetes due to herbicide exposure is remanded.,Service connection for kidney failure due to herbicide exposure is remanded.,Service connection for heart condition is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied because the evidence does not show that he is unable to engage in substantial gainful activity as a result of his service-connected heart disability.

The Board dismissed all appeals for service connection and disability ratings related to the veteran's conditions, including heart disabilities, psychiatric disorders, diabetic nephropathy, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathies, and retinopathy. The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chest pain and heart condition due to further development of her medical records and a new opinion from a VA clinician.

The Veteran's headaches and vertigo and dizziness disorders are granted as secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease, with a disability rating of 60 percent.

The Veteran's initial increased evaluation for service-connected coronary artery disease from November 14, 2018 to June 28, 2021 was granted at a 30 percent rating based on left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of more than 50 percent and workload greater than seven METs but not greater than ten METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness or syncope. The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluation remains pending.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease has been rated at 100 percent since October 20, 2020. He is also granted a TDIU from December 16, 2014 to October 20, 2020.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, chronic atrial fibrillation, and chronic renal failure. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.