Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Veteran's sleep apnea and degenerative joint disease of the upper and lower back have been granted service connection. The Board has also remanded for further examination to determine the nature and etiology of hypertension, degenerative joint disease of the arms, elbows, wrists, shoulders, neck, and a heart condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and arteriosclerotic heart disease (high cholesterol), but denied reopening of his claim for avascular necrosis. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to bipolar disorder, service connection for avascular necrosis, and an increased rating for bipolar disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn contributed to his causes of death (CAD and DMII).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development and requests an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's heart conditions and their relation to his military service, including presumed exposure to herbicides.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability, bilateral leg numbness, and left ear hearing loss due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of proper rationale in existing evaluations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease was granted, and an effective date of April 6, 2015, but no earlier, is assigned.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of service connection for thyroid cancer has been granted. The Board finds that new and material evidence was received after a final decision, allowing the reopening of this claim.,Service connection is being remanded for variously diagnosed heart disability (including pulmonary hypertension and tricuspid valve regurgitation), variously diagnosed skin disability (Chloracne), bilateral hearing loss disability, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy. The appeal will be returned to the Board after completion of development.,The Veteran's service connection claim for a variety of skin disabilities is being remanded due to lack of evidence related to exposure to herbicide agents. Further examination may be required to determine if any current skin disability is related to military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease and type II diabetes mellitus are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides during his service at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB in Thailand.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease, to include hypertension and cardiomegaly, finding that there is no current disability. The evidence did not support a finding of a current heart disability or a nexus between any diagnosed condition and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a heart condition and erectile dysfunction due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The case must be returned for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable since October 25, 2017.,VA granted service connection for CAD due to presumed herbicide exposure in March 2012.,VA granted a TDIU effective October 25, 2017 based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.,VA denied a TDIU application from April 2010 to October 25, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, heart disorder, and eye disorder due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection. The Veteran's conditions are related to his active service but need further clarification on the nature of the relationship.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for a heart condition, sleep apnea, DJD, and hypertension. The appeals are remanded for additional development regarding service connection for heart disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability as secondary to his right shoulder disability was granted. However, the claims for higher ratings for coronary artery disease prior to February 17, 2021, and from that date onward were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for CAD was granted, and he is currently in receipt of a 30 percent rating. The Board has denied his requests for higher ratings based on the current evidence.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for an increased disability rating for ischemic heart disease in excess of 60 percent prior to May 15, 2017. The Board dismissed the claim due to withdrawal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for coronary artery disease and hypertension due to insufficient evidence in previous examinations, particularly regarding his service from July 1974 to July 1978. The case is being returned for further development and consideration.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability, PTSD, and hypertension. The remand includes obtaining updated treatment records and requesting an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, bilateral ankles, and arthritis of his entire body. The remaining issues have been remanded.