Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart disability and skin cancer due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service. Further development is needed, including obtaining medical opinions on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted reopening of the claims for service connection for heart disease, diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, anemia, and sleep apnea. However, the criteria for these conditions are not met as they are not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease as due to herbicide exposure, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Thailand and developed this condition.

The Veteran's interstitial lung disease is granted service connection, and the heart disability issue is remanded for further examination and determination of whether it is related to his lung disability or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is denied as there was no evidence of its onset during service or a relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death and also denied his surviving spouse's claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and cause of death due to inextricably intertwined issues. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents is also under review.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and type II diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran's proximity to the perimeter of Udorn RTAFB during his active duty in Thailand qualifies him for presumptive service connection under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication of issues related to service connection, including those involving residuals of hammertoes, low back disability, hypertension, heart disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, GERD, colon disability, and headache.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for cause of death due to new and material evidence. However, the case is remanded as a VA medical opinion is needed regarding the nature and etiology of all conditions that contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, and gunshot wounds to the hip and leg, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work experience.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for ischemic coronary artery disease (CAD) and TDIU due to unemployability. The appeals are pending until further medical opinions can be obtained.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no indication from the record that he served in Vietnam and therefore could not be presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents. The Board also found that none of his service-connected conditions were a contributory cause of his death.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for coronary artery disease status post myocardial infarction has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the cause of death and whether service-connected conditions contributed to it, due to potential herbicide agent exposure. The appellant's claim for DIC benefits is remanded.

The Veteran's death was caused by an infection from a surgery for his service-connected ischemic heart disease, which led to sepsis and eventual death. The Board granted service connection for cause of death.

The Board has found that additional development is needed to fully assist the Veteran with his claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and updating VA treatment records. The claims are remanded for these purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, which included acute myocardial infarction due to extensive ischemic heart disease and end-stage renal disease, is related to service exposure. The Board found reasonable doubt in favor of the appellant regarding the Veteran's exposure to dioxins and lead during service, leading to a finding of service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause and aggravation of the Veteran's sleep apnea. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for coronary artery disease with atrial fibrillation are denied. The case is remanded for further development.