Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions to clarify whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and heart disability are at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and to determine if he has a current diagnosis of ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine its etiology and whether it is related to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected PTSD and coronary artery disease, effective from September 19, 1996. He is also granted SMC benefits at the housebound rate for the period between May 28, 2008 and August 21, 2011.

The Board has remanded the cases of hypertension and heart disability for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, ischemic heart disease, and hypertension have been denied. The claim for depression was reopened.,Service connection has been granted for ischemic heart disease as due to exposure to herbicides.

The Board has dismissed all claims for service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and coronary artery disease due to inadequate VA examinations, failure to consider the correct standard for nexus opinions, and need for new medical evidence regarding his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide exposure and service connection for coronary artery disease. The Veteran's claim will be further developed to determine if he was exposed to herbicides in Thailand, which could affect his eligibility for service connection under the PACT Act. Additionally, a VA medical opinion is needed to assess whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus has aggravated his coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's hypertension and CAD were not rated higher than the current assigned ratings of noncompensable for hypertension and 30 percent for CAD prior to September 19, 2011. The Board found that his hypertension did not meet criteria for a compensable rating based on diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, as most readings were below this threshold. For CAD, the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant a higher rating under the revised criteria effective January 12, 1998.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10% from March 2, 2020 onwards. The Veteran's ischemic heart disease was granted a 30% rating prior to September 28, 2016 and denied any higher rating thereafter.

The Veteran's valvular heart disease is currently rated at 30 percent, and a higher rating is not warranted. A TDIU has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for further medical development.,New and material evidence has been received, allowing the reopening of previously denied claims.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records and requests for additional information. The Veteran's claims for service connection are inextricably intertwined with his claim for diabetes mellitus type II, which is also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination and associated medical opinions. The Veteran is to be scheduled for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed heart condition, taking into consideration previous EKG findings.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and whether it is related to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's jaw disability claim is denied as there is no diagnosed condition.,Prior to June 27, 2022, the low back disability was rated at 10 percent. From June 27, 2022, a 20 percent rating is granted.,The GERD with status post right inguinal hernia repair claim remains pending as there are no compensable ratings assigned prior to June 27, 2022.,Service connection for the left eye disability must be remanded due to lack of a statement of the case (SOC).,Prostate cancer (adjudicated as cramps and pain in the testicles) claim is pending as there are no compensable ratings assigned prior to June 27, 2022.,Service connection for skin disability of the feet and face remains pending due to lack of a statement of the case (SOC).,Heart disability (adjudicated as chest pain) claim must be remanded due to lack of a statement of the case (SOC).,Right carpal tunnel syndrome claim is pending as there are no compensable ratings assigned prior to June 27, 2022.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted. The Veteran does not require regulation of activities to manage his diabetes. As for TDIU, the evidence shows that the Veteran has met the schedular criteria but is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for a heart disability, including supraventricular tachycardia, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, and atrial flutter/fibrillation paroxysmal. The Veteran's heart disabilities are presumed not related to herbicide exposure. The Board also requested an opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected hypertension could cause or aggravate his heart disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for COPD, hypertension, GERD, CAD, a psychiatric disability, a sinus disability, and a right wrist disability. The remand also includes an inquiry into potential herbicide agent exposure in Korea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Ischemic Heart Disease, Diabetes Mellitus type II, and a kidney disability have been granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for the kidney disability secondary to diabetes mellitus type II is remanded.