Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents or secondary to a heart disability, as well as coronary artery disease. The VA regional office needs to issue an SSOC considering the new evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) was denied because he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations, necessitating a denial as a matter of law.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease (CAD) as a result of exposure to an herbicide agent is granted. The evidence shows the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his naval service in Vietnam and has been diagnosed with CAD, which qualifies under presumptive service connection.

The Board denied service connection for heart disease and diabetes mellitus due to exposure to herbicide agents during service, finding that the Veteran did not serve along the Korean DMZ in an eligible period or have evidence of herbicide exposure. The claims were also denied on a direct basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, finding no current diagnosis and not as likely as not related to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a heart disorder and TDIU due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer and ischemic heart disease due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure to herbicide agents at Fort McClellan, Alabama. The Veteran is asked to provide additional information about his alleged exposure to contaminants.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chest pain and a chemical burn, finding no current disability related to these conditions.

The Board has granted an effective date of December 18, 2010 for the award of service connection for surgical scars related to a coronary artery bypass surgery. The Veteran's heart disability and associated scars are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, bilateral pes planus, heart condition (mild aortic insufficiency), frostbite in all fingers and toes, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, viral gastroenteritis, acquired psychiatric disorder, and sleep disorder.,The evidence did not support finding that these conditions began during service or were related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for diabetic retinopathy, heart disability, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the cases for further review due to incomplete medical opinions and a new theory of entitlement raised by the appellant.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability has not more nearly approximated the criteria for a compensable evaluation when mechanically applying the diagnostic criteria to the audiological testing results, and his complaint of difficulty hearing is contemplated by the rating schedule.,The Board finds that the evidence does not show that the U.S.S. Enterprise was in the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam from May 1967 to March 20, 1968, which would trigger VA's duty to assist him by providing him a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease and skin disability, to include seborrheic keratosis, has been remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The Board will consider whether this new evidence raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar disability, CAD, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, left arm disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claims were not supported by clear and unmistakable evidence showing the conditions pre-existed service or were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is currently rated at 10 percent prior to March 1, 2021 and granted a 30 percent rating from that date. The decision also denied entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and additional evidence. The Veteran's low back disability, heart disability (including tachycardia), and sleep apnea are all under review.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his active military service.

The Veteran's ratings for PTSD, CAD, and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to procedural issues and the need for additional medical examinations.