Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and incomplete service records. The Veteran's heart disabilities are being reviewed again for possible service connection.

The Veteran's cause of death was cardio-respiratory arrest due to COPD and emphysema. The Board found the August 2017 medical opinion inadequate as it did not address whether his service-connected heart disability contributed substantially or materially to his overall decline in health, rendering him less capable of resisting COPD. Additionally, a remand is required for an etiology opinion on the cause of death and the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected heart disability and his death.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for heart disorder, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The case is REMANDED for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the denial of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is reopened, but the effective date earlier than March 18, 2014 is denied.,The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for right knee internal derangement and degenerative joint disease, scar, status post right medial meniscectomy, painful right knee scar, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), and degenerative disc disease mild and facet arthropathy, mild L4-5, L5-S1 are all denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition is also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease as due to herbicide exposure, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides while stationed at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development of his military and medical records.

The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to clinical hypertensive cardiovascular disease, but the service-connected disabilities did not contribute substantially or materially to his death. The Board found that there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and denied DIC benefits based on service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, coronary artery disease, restrictive lung disease, right knee arthralgia, and residuals of left tibia fracture have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective February 12, 2011. The Veteran's eligibility for DEA under Chapter 35 is also granted effective February 12, 2011. The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of a total disability rating is dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues regarding special monthly compensation and financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain additional opinions regarding service connection. The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and vision/glaucoma are being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether ischemic heart disease contributed substantially or materially to the Veteran's death, which was caused by gastric cancer with metastasis to the liver.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death is due to a service-connected disability, but needs further medical opinion to determine if his heart disease, diabetes mellitus, lung cancer and other conditions contributed to his death.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and bladder cancer due to herbicide exposure are denied as there is no evidence of in-service herbicide exposure or direct service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus type II and ischemic heart disease are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents such as Agent Orange. The claim for a psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease is granted, with the effective date set at May 5, 2014.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain medical opinions regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea, heart condition, and TDIU claim. The issues include service connection for sleep apnea due to PTSD and heart condition due to PTSD, with a focus on whether these conditions are aggravated by the service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for heart disease post myocardial infarction as due to herbicide exposure during the Veteran's service in Thailand, finding that his current diagnosis is at least as likely as not related to this exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a heart condition due to incomplete records and need for further development.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a heart condition and anxiety-depression, but denied them on their merits. The case is remanded to consider these issues again.