Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The rating for coronary artery disease was reduced from 60 percent to 10 percent, effective September 1, 2017. The reduction was improper as the evidence did not show actual improvement in the Veteran's condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hand, heart, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional medical examinations. The issues include heart disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), hemorrhoids, left thumb injury, and right foot disability.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes. The heart disability claim, including for hypertensive heart disease due to herbicide exposure and/or compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to testosterone injections administered by VA, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension secondary to service-connected PTSD due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, left and right sciatic peripheral neuropathy are rated at 40 percent for the period from December 10, 2019, and thereafter. The Veteran also receives a TDIU.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents and to conduct further research regarding his claimed in-service noise exposure. The claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete medical records, lack of a nexus opinion, and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for IHD/CAD, hypertension, and prostate cancer have been granted. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and persistent depressive disorder) and a respiratory disability (shortness of breath) are being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes, diabetic nephropathy, and neuropathy of all four extremities, as well as other conditions like vocal cord cancer residuals and coronary artery disease, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU from December 1, 2014, to May 29, 2020, July 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a heart disability due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. Additional development is required, including obtaining addendum opinions from different examiners.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no final decision can be made on the merits of his claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a total disability based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to August 21, 2014 due to insufficient examination records regarding medications used for service-connected conditions and outstanding medical records from Richmond, Virginia.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions regarding sinusitis and heart conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, to include as secondary to his service-connected social anxiety disorder, is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current heart conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's atherosclerotic heart disease (ischemic heart disease) was denied an increased rating in excess of 20 percent prior to July 29, 2022 and in excess of 50 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand, as provided by the PACT Act. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange while stationed at Udorn Royal Thai Air Base and thus entitled to presumptive service connection.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to nonservice-connected pension and granted it, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The appeal is remanded for further adjudication regarding the appropriate rate of pension based on the Veteran's income, medical expenses, net worth, and need for aid and attendance.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease due to herbicide agent exposure during the Veteran's temporary duty (TDY) in Vietnam, finding that his claims are supported by credible and competent evidence of his exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a heart disorder, type II diabetes mellitus, and prostate cancer due to unclear exposure information. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions from the clinician who provided the June 2022 VA examination.

The Board dismissed the claims of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II and in excess of 30 percent prior to March 31, 2011, for coronary artery disease. The claim for TDIU was granted.