Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Board has denied service connection for a heart disorder, back disability, and left knee disability. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease are granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service at U-Tapao RTAFB in Thailand. The PACT Act of 2022 extends this presumption for veterans who served in Thailand between January 9, 1962, and June 30, 1976.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and an examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened due to the PACT Act. The Board has granted service connection for hypertension based on presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. Other claims, including COPD and left knee disability, are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, prostate cancer, and ischemic heart disease have been granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents at U-Tapao Royal Thai Air Force Base where he served.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete treatment records for myocardial infarctions of June 2015 and March 2016, which may affect the evaluation of the Veteran's coronary artery disease with ischemic cardiomyopathy.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, effective date determinations, and TDIU claim. The specific issues include esophagus disability, heart disability, jaw (mouth/teeth) disability, schizophrenia disorder, left ear hearing loss, deviated nasal septum, TBI, and headaches.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with previous remand orders regarding the Veteran's history of ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the October 2020 VA examination and the need to obtain private treatment records from Florida.

The Veteran's effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease is granted as August 31, 2010. The appeal for higher ratings and earlier effective dates are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to lack of proper investigation into the Veteran's claimed nautical service in Vietnam, which could have provided herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease is related to his herbicide exposure, and the claim for this condition is granted. The claims for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded as VA opinions are needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are granted. The Veteran is entitled to presumptive service connection for his conditions due to herbicide exposure in Thailand.

Your claim for a higher rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected coronary artery disease has been dismissed because your condition was already fully rated at 100 percent effective April 1, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for ischemic heart disease is denied. The Board has also determined that a secondary service connection claim for aortic stenosis, status post valve replacement, should be remanded to the AOJ.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for cause of death due to ischemic heart disease, finding that the Appellant's claim was not timely filed within one year of her spouse's death and did not meet the criteria for a Nehmer class member status.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the loss of use of both lower extremities, requiring him to rely on assistive devices for mobility. The Board has granted financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing due to his permanent and total service-connected disability.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is granted, and the right ear hearing loss disability issue is remanded. The heart disability issue is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and a heart disability have been granted due to the submission of new evidence. However, service connection is denied as there was no in-service exposure or manifestation of these conditions.

The Board has found the March 2021 decision inadequate and remanded for an updated medical review to determine if the Veteran requires personal care services each time he completes one or more activities of daily living, including dressing, bathing, and toileting. The decision also notes that the Veteran may require regular supervision, protection, or instruction to keep himself safe.