Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence submitted by the Veteran, which relates to his PTSD diagnosis.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, heart condition, headaches, memory loss, respiratory condition, liver condition, muscle pain, and joint pain. The decision also remanded several other issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of in-service herbicide exposure and asbestos/lead exposure. The Veteran's heart disorder claim is also being remanded for further development.

Service connection for hypertension and prostate cancer is granted. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and a heart condition (presumed ischemic heart disease) are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is granted as a matter of law on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service at the RTAFB in Udorn, Thailand.

The Veteran's earlier effective date claim and TDIU claim are dismissed as moot because the 100% disability rating for CAD has been granted.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for liver disability as secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in the September 2022 decision.

The Veteran's heart disability, chest pain(s), and asthma are not service-connected as they did not begin during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as depression, mental stress, worry, and/or mental health) is also not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for heart disorder, diabetes mellitus, and hearing loss have been withdrawn. The case is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the issue of whether the Veteran's vertigo is related to his service, including herbicide exposure or secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, heart disorder (including arrhythmia and ischemic heart disease), and left ankle strain due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, left lower extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, and tinnitus as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or chronicity.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, and related conditions are granted. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents during service, which supports his claims for these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in a previous VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's heart condition worsened due to carelessness, negligence, or similar fault from the Charleston VAMC. The appellant argues that the surgeons should have repaired his leaking mitral valve during bypass surgery and that this failure led to worsening of his heart condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to errors in the May 2021 decision, including insufficient discussion of a February 17, 2010 private opinion from Dr. J.B., and failure to address favorable buddy statements and SSA records.

The Veteran's hypertension and chronic kidney disease are granted service connection. The cardiovascular disability to include ischemic heart disease, and the pulmonary disability (asthma) are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives, specifically obtaining an advisory opinion from a cardiologist. The Veteran's current heart condition is being evaluated for potential service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for respiratory and heart disabilities due to incomplete records. The Veteran's service treatment records are unavailable, but a request was made to obtain them from Elmendorf Air Force Base. Additionally, clarification is needed regarding whether the notation 'RE:3' in the remarks section of his DD Form 214 indicates a reenlistment code and its meaning.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to open medical questions related to his CAD, arthritis of various joints, and other disabilities. The Veteran is required to undergo examinations to address these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional medical examinations.