Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration, including referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular TDIU evaluation.

The Board has dismissed all appeals for service connection as the Veteran died before a decision could be made.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and related issues have been dismissed, except for the sarcoidosis claim which has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for an increased rating for ischemic heart disease/coronary artery disease and PTSD, as well as the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for a heart disorder and total disability rating due to individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) as they are inextricably intertwined. The Veteran's heart condition, including hypertensive cardiovascular disease/ congestive heart failure, is related to his military service performance and service in Korea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and chronic kidney disease have been granted. However, the case has been remanded to obtain an opinion on whether the heart disorder is secondary to diabetes.

The Board dismissed all the claims as they are related to a deceased Veteran.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during his Vietnam service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's heart conditions and lung condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left and right foot disabilities, heart disability, ankle disabilities, and pseudofolliculitis barbae have been granted. The claim of reopening for a heart disability has also been granted. However, the issues regarding left and right ankle disabilities and left leg disability are still pending as they require further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart disorder and diabetes mellitus, type II due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's alleged exposure to herbicide agents and/or other toxins during his service at Fort McClellan.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and disability ratings related to various spinal conditions and sciatica, as well as a TDIU claim due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, prostate disorder, diabetes mellitus, and hernia. Service connection was remanded for esophageal reflux.,Service connection for esophageal reflux is being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, status-post bypass surgery, is currently rated as 10 percent disabling prior to January 2, 2019, from May 1, 2019, to November 2, 2019, and from March 1, 2020, to November 15, 2021, and as 60 percent disabling thereafter. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher rating have not been met.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the June 2021 remand directives and has ordered another remand to obtain a new opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected CAD and depression disorder cause or aggravate his hypertension.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for coronary artery disease should be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to herbicide agents during service in Korea.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding service connection for a heart disability, including coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction. The issues of individual unemployability prior to March 28, 2019 are also inextricably intertwined with the service connection issue.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease was granted, and he is now receiving a 60 percent disability rating. The decision also grants service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. His bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, right shoulder osteoarthritis with strain, and back disability are all found to be related to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart racing on a direct and secondary basis, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to this condition.