Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to a TDIU prior to October 14, 2018 due to insufficient information regarding his income during that period. The AOJ is instructed to verify and associate the Veteran's verified yearly income for years 2004 through 2009 with the claims file.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension and hypertensive heart disease are proximately due or aggravated by service-connected supraventricular arrythmia. The case is being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disability, CAD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to the Veteran's inability to attend VA examinations due to cancer treatment.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date due to outstanding private treatment records. The appellant is asked to provide authorization for Dr. Miller's records using the Veteran's name and date of birth.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease with left leg stent is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to herbicides in Thailand. The Board requests verification from the VA Military Records Research Center (MRRC) or other appropriate sources.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease as a result of herbicide agent exposure is granted. The Board found sufficient evidence to conclude that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service and thus service connection is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for heart disability, including ischemic heart disease and atrial fibrillation, due to exposure to herbicide agents was denied as new and material evidence had not been received.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 1, 2011.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, including as due to hypertension, and for hypertension. The decision found that the Veteran's conditions did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims regarding his heart disability, sleep apnea, left foot and right foot disabilities. The issues have been remanded to allow for further examination and evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by VA personnel's failure to follow the appropriate standard of care and provided treatment without informed consent, warranting compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Veteran's death was not due to his own willful misconduct, but the cause of death (respiratory failure due to severe COPD) is not service-connected. The Board has remanded for further analysis regarding whether COPD and IHD contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral leg cramps, respiratory disability (claimed as fungus in lungs), and heart disability due to insufficient development. The Veteran's lay testimony will be considered along with medical evidence for a determination on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent prior to December 20, 2017 for coronary artery disease (CAD) is remanded due to outstanding medical records from Toledo Hospital and Dr. Todd Monroe.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating. The TDIU claim is granted from June 30, 2018 to January 5, 2019.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and impairment of the right tibia and fibula are being remanded for further examination to determine their current severity.,The Veteran's impairment of the right tibia and fibula is also being remanded for further examination to determine its current severity.,The Veteran's liver disability, kidney disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, and heart disability are being remanded due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Service connection will be considered on a direct basis as well as presumptively based on exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,The Veteran's leukemia is also being remanded for further examination to determine its current severity and whether it is related to service, including exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the claims for arteriosclerotic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and disability affecting the left leg due to exposure to herbicidal agents. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's ischemic heart disease, presumed to be related to his service in Vietnam, substantially and materially contributed to his death. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, chronic renal disease, and ischemic heart disease with hypertensive cardiovascular disease due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their relationship to service-connected PTSD. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the hypertension claim.