Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for hypertensive heart disease but remanded the issue of service connection for asthma due to incomplete and/or inaccurate facts in the November 2021 VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for PTSD and CAD as they believe additional evidence is needed, including VA medical records and a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for rheumatic heart disease, deformity of aortic valve, and aortic insufficiency was denied as there is no evidence of any prior claims or intent to file such claims before May 7, 2009.

The Veteran's CAD was rated at 30 percent from November 1, 2014 to December 17, 2018.,From December 18, 2018 to July 21, 2019, the Veteran's CAD was rated at 60 percent.,As of July 22, 2019, the Veteran's CAD is rated at 100 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were of sufficient severity to have precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to his death, leading to a TDIU being granted.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus as due to herbicide exposure. The heart disability, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and foot disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his COPD claim. The Board finds that a new VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of his COPD, including consideration of exposure to chemicals, jet fuels, asbestos, and Agent Orange.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's heart disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The examiner should also consider if obesity, a risk factor for cardiac disease, serves as an intermediate step between PTSD and the heart disability.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, including whether it is related to his service-connected disabilities or obesity.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. Service connection for coronary artery disease and left ear hearing loss are remanded due to missing records.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted as service connected due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The heart disorder and gastrointestinal disorder are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to service-connected disabilities. The increased rating, SMC, and TDIU claims are remanded as the Veteran's private treatment records have not been obtained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and PTSD due to new evidence indicating that his current heart condition may be related to in-service sinus bradycardia. The Veteran's PTSD claim is also remanded as the VA failed to provide an examination to determine if it was related to reported stressors during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and erectile dysfunction, render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease is granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been granted, and the appeal is granted to this extent only. Service connection for coronary artery disease has also been granted. The claims for increased rating for PTSD prior to December 27, 2019 and thereafter are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, type II diabetes mellitus, and hypertension due to the Veteran's obesity being a substantial factor in causing these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed without prejudice due to the death of the claimant, as no substitution has been filed.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development regarding the Veteran's claimed herbicide agent exposures, including contacting the Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) and requesting more information from the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected arteriosclerotic heart disease is found to have contributed substantially or materially to his death due to right ventricular failure, and the Board grants service connection for cause of death.