Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for hypertension and heart condition (including coronary artery disease) due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives. The case is sent back for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is rated at 30 percent from January 15, 2012 to June 24, 2016.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction are all granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service at or near the Korean DMZ.

The Veteran's heart disease and hypertension were denied as not related to service.,Sleep apnea was granted as aggravated by service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction with 3 stent placements from March 12, 2017. The Board dismissed the appeal.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including heart condition, prostate issues, skin condition/open sores on head, Alzheimer's disease with atypical motor neuron disease, PTSD, and anxiety. The remand requests additional examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the secondary service connection for hypertension, PTSD, and IHD. The Veteran's representative provided a reference to NIH studies linking PTSD and hypertension, which must be considered in the examination.

The Veteran's appeals for COPD, bilateral shoulder conditions, Peyronie's disease, skin cancer, right heel disability, peripheral artery disease of the bilateral lower extremities, entitlement to a compensable rating for residuals of a rib fracture, and earlier effective date prior to February 28, 2013 for the award of service connection for a rib fracture residual were dismissed. The Veteran's esophageal stricture was granted with a 50% disability rating. Service connection for coronary artery disease, osteoarthritis of the right wrist, and bilateral knees was also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, heart disability, and pulmonary hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected asbestosis.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and kidney disabilities. The claims are remanded due to the need for further development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and the cause of death are granted. The kidney disability claim is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and incomplete opinions. The Veteran's heart disorder, respiratory disorder (including pulmonary fibrosis), and polymyalgia rheumatica in the lower extremities are all under review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic bronchitis has been granted. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for a heart disability and recurrent tonsillitis, both related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's conditions are presumed related to his in-service exposure.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and heart disability (including ischemic heart disease and coronary artery disease with bypass surgery) are granted as presumptively related to herbicide exposure during service in Thailand. Bilateral hearing loss, aortic valve stenosis, arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, palpitations, murmur, hypertension, actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma are presumed due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining information about potential chemical exposure during his military service and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the service connection for heart disabilities, including coronary artery disease, cardiomegaly, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, congestive heart failure, and hypervolemia. The appellant must provide additional evidence or have their file reviewed by an independent medical expert.

The Board has remanded the claims due to new medical evidence being submitted. The AOJ will review this evidence and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for renal insufficiency, heart condition, and lumbar spine condition due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's respiratory disability is not service-connected, and his TDIU claim is granted due to multiple service-connected disabilities preventing him from working.