Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, ischemic heart disease (IHD), and a lung condition due to herbicide agent exposure. Additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, heart disability including ischemic heart disease, and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted. The decision also notes that the Veteran does not currently have obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for coronary artery disease is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for CAD, diabetes mellitus, type II, and dry eye syndrome have been granted. The exposure to herbicide agents while serving at Ubon RTAFB in Thailand is presumed.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected CAD was denied, as the condition did not meet the criteria for an increased rating prior to February 17, 2021.,The issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to June 15, 2018 is remanded and may be granted on a case-by-case basis due to the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to unclear factual records and need for additional evidence. The issues include hypertension, heart disorder, urinary tract disorders, thoracolumbar spine disorder, right hip disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, all potentially related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a heart disorder, including myocardial infarction (MI), was denied because the VA treatment did not result in an additional disability caused by negligence or fault on VA's part. The Board found that the Veteran did not suffer from an additional disability due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or other fault related to VA treatment. However, the claim for service connection was remanded as there is a new theory of entitlement based on PTSD.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability. The Board found no evidence of any heart, lung, renal, or DVT condition during his military service that could have contributed to his death.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating prior to March 31, 2018 and TDIU prior to February 1, 2017 was denied. The Veteran had chronic congestive heart failure from March 31, 2018 onwards, but the Board found that he did not have chronic congestive heart failure before this date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the severity of his service-connected atherosclerotic heart disease status-post coronary bypass surgery. The VA examiner is requested to provide an updated assessment.

The Veteran's initial ratings for supraventricular arrhythmia and valvular heart disease have been denied as the evidence does not show more than 4 episodes per year of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or other supraventricular tachycardia documented by an ECG or Holter monitor.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional information regarding his income and unreimbursed medical expenses, which may affect his eligibility for nonservice-connected pension benefits as of June 28, 2020.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus, type II with peripheral neuropathy as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and ischemic heart disease are granted service connection based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his time at U-Tapao Air Force Base in Thailand.

The Veteran's respiratory, kidney, heart, bladder, and prostate disorders are remanded for further evaluation due to exposure to toxic chemicals in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his TDIU, finding that it was not factually ascertainable that his service-connected disabilities worsened prior to September 21, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for scar residual of right thumb injury is granted. Claims for chronic kidney disease, atherosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease (CAD)) and congestive heart failure (CHF), sleep apnea, and hypertension are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete military personnel records and a need for further development regarding asbestos exposure. The claims will be reviewed again with these additional pieces of evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is granted. The Board finds the VA examiner's opinion inadequate and remands the case to obtain a new opinion regarding the Veteran's melanoma of the back, neck, and arms.