Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain missing service records and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions. The claims for hypertension, migraine headaches, gastrointestinal disability (GERD), coronary artery disease (CAD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) is remanded for further development, including an exercise stress test. The TDIU claim is also remanded as inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete service treatment records and outstanding VA, non-VA, and Social Security Administration records. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a heart disability, respiratory disability, neck disability, low back disability, peripheral nerve disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all being remanded.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any left ankle, left knee, or heart disabilities. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease is denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's heart conditions, including ischemic and hypertensive heart disease, are granted service connection due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during his Vietnam service. Service connection for hypertension is withdrawn.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability related to his active service and that there was insufficient evidence of a causal relationship between any in-service symptoms and his post-service diagnosis of coronary artery disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a coronary artery disease disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current diagnosis and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's ischemic heart disease and for completion of VA Form 21-8940 (Veteran's Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including residuals of a brain aneurysm, bilateral eye disorder, right-side stroke residuals, hypertension, heart disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, vertigo, nerve damage to include loss of muscle in the brain, and arthritis. The Board found no evidence that these conditions are related to service or a service-connected disability.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and prostate cancer, both presumed to be related to herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran's claim for a sleep disability is remanded due to incomplete records. The claims for higher initial ratings for hearing loss are also remanded.

The Board granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, to include as due to in-service herbicide agent exposure, based on new and material evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder, other than hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of such condition during or within one year after separation from service and that it is not related to service.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected heart disability and PTSD, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a stomach disorder has been denied as there is no evidence of such condition during or within one year after his separation from active duty. The Board found that the current diagnoses are not related to his military service.,Regarding the heart disorder other than CAD, the Board remanded due to insufficient medical opinions on etiology and potential relationship with PTSD.

The Board granted a 100 percent rating from July 10, 1991 for coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction based on the evidence showing a coronary occlusion with angina on moderate exertion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease and type II diabetes mellitus due to exposure to herbicide agents, as his claimed exposure is not verified. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient rationale in the previous opinion regarding the heart disability and its relation to herbicide exposure. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the service connection issue.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for a heart disability and scar associated with ASD surgery due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition is alleged to be related to her SVT, which may aggravate her service-connected scars.