Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for CAD is dismissed because no NOD was filed under the new framework.

The Board has remanded the claims for tension headaches, atrial septal defect heart disability, and Gilbert's Disease and a right kidney cyst due to incomplete information or need for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for a heart condition and remanded the issue of service connection for a skin rash. The case is being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the severity of their service-connected coronary artery disease and whether they are unemployable due to this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed as the Veteran requested that his appeal be withdrawn from the legacy appeal system and considered under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) review system.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear diagnosis and inadequate examination, requiring further development including a cardiac specialist evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, CAD, and service connection for COPD and emphysema have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis, a heart disorder, squamous cell carcinoma, and gout, finding that the Veteran did not have current disabilities related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to December 29, 2015 and September 11, 2017 for the grant of service connection for CAD and diabetes mellitus II have been denied.,The Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for CAD and diabetes mellitus II are remanded. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also remanded.

The Veteran's heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II are granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during his military service in Vietnam.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from January 26, 2021, through July 28, 2021. From July 29, 2021, the appeal for a TDIU is dismissed as moot due to his current combined rating of 100%.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure as secondary to hypertension are both granted. The CAD is presumed due to herbicide exposure, while the CHF is found to be proximately due to his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease was denied from January 9, 2020 to March 1, 2021. From March 2, 2021 onward, the Veteran is granted a 60 percent evaluation for his coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals to a left eye injury, diabetes mellitus, type II, ischemic heart disease (IHD) (diagnosed as stroke), bilateral hearing loss, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome have all been denied. The Board found no current disabilities related to the claimed conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding that his exposure to herbicide agents while serving at the RTAFB in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand during the Vietnam era is presumed. The Veteran was found to have been exposed near the air base perimeter and thus meets the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's initial claims for increased ratings for coronary artery disease status post bypass graft and associated scar have been remanded due to a duty to assist error. The VA is required to schedule the Veteran for examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, a skin condition, obstructive sleep apnea, and ataxia due to exposure to harmful chemicals. The claims are now considered on their merits.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an opinion from a VA examiner concerning the Veteran's heart conditions, specifically whether they clearly and unmistakably pre-existed service, were aggravated by military service, or are otherwise related to military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for lung disability and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an initial rating of 100 percent, effective from July 26, 2021. The issues of service connection for heart disease, left shoulder disability, residuals of fibroid tumor, and low back disability are remanded.