Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a neck disability, lupus, and heart disability. The left knee disability claim is also being remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease, including as due to exposure to herbicide agents or asbestos, is denied. The Board found no evidence of chronic disease in service and did not establish a link between the current condition and service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, residuals of a kidney transplant, bilateral retinopathy, and bilateral below the knee amputation have been granted. The case is remanded for further development regarding the remaining issues.

The Veteran's left vocal cord disability was granted a rating of 60 percent from April 12, 2018 to March 21, 2021.,The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to December 30, 2020 was granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition due to Agent Orange exposure and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) as they are related to his in-service head injury. Additional development is needed.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination. The Veteran's claims include service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, heart condition, diabetes mellitus, skin condition, back condition, and right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance and due to being housebound was denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for SMC at either the aid and attendance or housebound rate, as he does not have a single service-connected disability rated 100 percent disabling, is not permanently bedridden or housebound by reason of his service-connected disabilities, and does not require regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the issue of service connection for a heart disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and disc disease, cervical strain, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and tinnitus, preclude him from following a substantially gainful occupation for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him. The Board granted entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis pursuant to 38 C.F.R. � 4.16(b).

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate have been granted. The issues of a higher rating for CAD and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's need for aid and attendance is remanded due to the presence of nonservice-connected conditions that contribute to his need, and a VA examination is required to assess solely his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, CAD, and hypothyroidism. The lung disability and sleep apnea claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for bilateral hearing loss from May 30, 2013 to September 1, 2015 was denied. The Veteran's TDIU claim during the same period was granted.

The Board has denied service connection for a heart disorder and residuals of a lung disorder, finding no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not require the regular aid and attendance of another person at any point during the period on appeal, thus his claim for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance is denied.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 11, 2019 for service connection for his heart disability and denied restoration of service connection. The RO severed service connection for the Veteran's heart disability in April 2022 due to clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease (CAD), and hypertension due to herbicide agent exposure are granted. Service connection is also granted for a cerebrovascular accident secondary to service-connected diabetes.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cause of death, including whether his psychiatric disability contributed to his death.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and coronary artery disease (CAD) are granted as due to herbicide exposure, with the presumption of exposure at Osan Air Base.