Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 13, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his respiratory disorder, upper extremity disabilities, and Parkinson's disease. The Board will consider the service connection claims on a new examination.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for ischemic heart disease prior to March 12, 2016 was granted with a 60% disability rating. The claim for a higher rating from March 12, 2016 and the TDIU claim were both denied.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant died during the pendency of the case and there are no provisions for substituting a claimant in this situation.

The Board denied service connection for supraventricular arrhythmia and hypertension, finding no evidence of a nexus to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to exposure to chemicals, including herbicides, as the Veteran's conditions are not clearly related to his military service. Additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's exposure and obtain medical opinions regarding the nature of his disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's heart condition, finding that his conditions are not linked to herbicide exposure and ruling out presumptive service connection due to ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's CAD was initially rated at 10% from May 18, 2015 to January 12, 2020. From January 13, 2020 to October 20, 2021, the rating was increased to 60%. Effective October 21, 2021, a 100% rating for CAD is granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of service connection for heart disability and hypertension due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The appeal for service connection for any acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an addendum VA opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease (CAD). The current medical opinions are inadequate and do not address whether the Veteran's erythema nodosum caused or aggravated his CAD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cataracts and dry eyes, and other conditions, are found to be of sufficient severity to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment for the period prior to September 17, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and a heart disorder, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service aboard the USS America. The heart disorder is considered ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for respiratory disorder, heart disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, type II due to exposure to asbestos, lead paint, and other hazardous chemicals during his service on the USS Ponce.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation are found to be related to his active duty service, including exposure to herbicide agents. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for cardiopulmonary complications of dyspnea and cough due to a service-connected heart disability. Service connection for pneumoconiosis/black lung and aerated diaphragm is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus type II and ischemic heart disease have been granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides during active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Diabetes Mellitus type two and Ischemic Heart Disease to include as due to herbicide exposure, due to unclear reasons in the previous decision. The Veteran's exposure is presumed based on his service at Udorn RTAFB during the Vietnam Era.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional VA treatment records.