Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and heart disorders. The clinician is requested to provide opinions on whether these conditions are related to service or secondary to a previously service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder and diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no in-service exposure to herbicide agents and insufficient evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Board denied the Appellant's request for an effective date before March 11, 2014, for service connection for the cause of her husband's death due to ischemic heart disease. The Board found that while the Appellant qualified as a Nehmer class member and could potentially have an earlier effective date under certain circumstances, she did not file a claim for compensation benefits related to ischemic heart disease before March 2015.

The Veteran's heart disability is denied as it did not have its clinical onset during or within one year of service and is not otherwise related to service. The Veteran's bilateral leg muscle spasms are granted as an undiagnosed illness due to service in the Gulf War.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and throat cancer due to exposure to herbicides during service. The AOJ is instructed to confirm if a spray test of Agent Purple occurred in Jacksonville from July 18-21, 1962.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in Vietnam is presumed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service in the Republic of Vietnam, including his time aboard the USS Hornet, qualifies him for presumptive exposure to herbicide agents. Therefore, he is granted service connection for ischemic heart disease as due to such exposure.

The Veteran's Ischemic Heart Disease is rated at 100% from December 14, 2018. The Board has remanded the issue of a total disability rating based on unemployability prior to December 14, 2018.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for Parkinson's disease and an increased rating for tinnitus. The TDIU appeal was dismissed prior to January 1, 2017, but granted since that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease as a result of herbicide exposure is being remanded to allow the VA to verify his alleged exposures and develop the claim further.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions in the previous VA examinations and the need for further clarification of the Veteran's heart disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to concerns about the competence of the VA examiners who provided opinions related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran's heart disability, neurobehavioral effects (including stroke), and acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression) are all being reviewed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims. The claim for hypertension is also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, finding that there was no nexus between his current heart condition and his military service or exposure to herbicides or contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Board determined that the Veteran did not have ischemic heart disease, which is presumed due to Agent Orange exposure, and concluded that his valvular heart disease was more likely a naturally occurring age-related condition unrelated to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for ischemic heart disease and kidney disease. The remand is due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides while stationed at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, which could affect his claims.

The Veteran's cardiovascular disorder, specifically coronary artery disease (CAD), is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to herbicide agents. The appeal for this condition has been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's atherosclerotic heart disease and his military service. The cause of death was attributed to cardiopulmonary arrest with underlying cause being atherosclerotic heart disease.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been granted. Service connection has not been established for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy or multiple myeloma.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disorder, to include coronary artery disease (CAD), due to herbicide exposure. The gastrointestinal disorder case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to missing records from the Orlando and Tampa VAMCs. The hypertension claim is also pending as it may be related to the other conditions.