Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for cause of death and entitlement to DIC under Title 38, United States Code, Section 1318 due to their inextricability with the claim for service connection for CAD.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for coronary artery disease due to insufficient compliance with prior remand directives and a need for an addendum medical opinion from a cardiologist.

The Veteran's skin cancer, heart disability, and respiratory disability are being remanded for additional development due to potential service connection based on exposure to radiation, contaminated drinking water at Camp LeJeune, or sun exposure. The claims will be reviewed again after the completion of the requested development.

The Veteran's thyroid disorder resolved before the claim was filed, and there is no current disability or functional impairment of earning capacity from such at any time since the claim was filed.,The Veteran's lower extremity skin diseases were not manifest in service or within one year of separation, and are unrelated to service. The Board found that they were not due to herbicide agent exposure.,There is no current disability for heart disease, and the Board concluded that it was not related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's atypical chest pain, which is not related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for rheumatic heart disease with valvular heart disease and an initial compensable rating for hypertension due to a withdrawal of the appeal by the appellant's authorized representative.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease, status post stent, is not shown to have been productive of a workload of 5 METs or less, or a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 50 percent or less prior to November 10, 2021. As such, the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent are not met.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a heart disability due to inaction on part of his service connection claim, specifically regarding whether his current heart condition is related to his military service or if it was caused by his now service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and heart disability.

The Board has determined that the remand directives were not followed and another remand is necessary to ensure a complete record for decision on the Veteran's claims, particularly regarding service connection for mental health disability.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of low back injury has been dismissed as the benefit was granted.,The Veteran's claim to reopen his right hip injury has been granted, but further examination and opinion are needed before a final decision can be made.

The Veteran's entitlement to a disability rating of 60 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted prior to November 17, 2021. From November 17, 2021, the Veteran's entitlement to a higher disability rating for CAD is denied.

The Veteran's heart disability, prostate cancer, diabetes, bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing they were incurred or aggravated by his military service.,Specifically, the Board found insufficient evidence to support a finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his time in Thailand. The Veteran's service records do not indicate he had any ongoing problems with these conditions while in service and there is no other competent medical evidence suggesting an association to service.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for CAD, CLL, generalized anxiety disorder, and hypertension due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during his naval service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's pancreatic cancer and coronary artery disease were related to his service, specifically presumed exposure to Agent Orange. The cause of death was initially listed as pancreatic cancer but later amended to include CAD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's heart disabilities, specifically arteriosclerotic heart disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for heart and pulmonary disabilities due to incomplete development, including a lack of VA examinations and consideration of Agent Orange exposure. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a heart disorder in service or within one year following separation. The Board also found that the Veteran's heart disorders are not related to his military service, including any herbicide exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease needs further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, as there is insufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that he is unemployable because of his service-connected disabilities. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.