Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for valvular heart disease with cardiac murmur, finding that the Veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under either pre- or post-amendment rating criteria.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, coronary artery disease, and left knee disability have been granted service connection. The Veteran's arthritis, fatigue, respiratory disorder, sinusitis, penile implant, gall bladder removal, skin disorder, and digestive disorder appeals were dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a jaw condition, headaches, and heart condition are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer are presumed to be caused by herbicide exposure in service, specifically Agent Orange. Bilateral hearing loss is also granted.,Service connection for a right groin scar secondary to prostate cancer is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for Graves' disease, left foot plantar fascitis and idiopathic peripheral neuropathy (to include as secondary to Graves' disease), gastrointestinal disorder (to include as secondary to Graves' disease), heart disorder, and right ear hearing loss have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of current symptoms or service connection.

The Veteran's cause of death, ischemic heart disease, is presumed to be associated with herbicide agent exposure during his service. As the PACT Act covers service performed in Thailand without regard to where on the base he was located or what job specialty he had, the Board grants service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is granted as incurred in service. The Board also found that the Veteran's COPD and coronary artery disease are not directly related to service, but did not dismiss these claims due to a lack of evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected coronary artery disease, residuals of an injury to the long finger on the right hand, and residuals of an injury to the ring finger and little finger on the right hand due to a lack of recent VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and requests that a clinician review additional records and provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's heart disorder is related to service or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of Alzheimer's disease and coronary artery disease (CAD) for further evaluation due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicides during his service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, finding that there is no causal relationship between his current heart conditions and military service or diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient medical evidence to decide his prostate cancer and heart disability claims.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations to assess his current employment capacity given his service-connected PTSD and ischemic heart disease.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the Veteran's heart conditions, CTS of the wrists, Parkinson's disease, and peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss also needs further examination.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for the appellant's service-connected coronary artery disease, residuals of myocardial infarction, and atrial fibrillation, finding that his METs workload is 3 or less due to his cardiac disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his cervical spine, heart, and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause significant incapacity that requires regular aid and attendance. The Board granted SMC A&A, a greater benefit than SMC(s)(1), which is now moot.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a respiratory condition (to include COPD) and a heart condition due to exposure to Agent Orange during military service in the blue waters of Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disabilities, finding that there is no direct or secondary service connection to his service or service-connected conditions. The most probative evidence of record does not support a finding that the Veteran's current heart disabilities are related to his service or any service-connected condition.