Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Board has decided that the Veteran's respiratory disability, diagnosed as ethmoid sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, had its onset in service. The heart condition, obstructive sleep apnea, back condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's heart disability renders him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment for the period prior to February 24, 2021. From February 24, 2021, he is rated at 100% for his arrhythmia.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and SMC based on aid and attendance due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the severity of his diabetes and inability to perform daily activities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia has been reopened and granted. His current diagnosis of schizophrenia is linked to his in-service ACDUTRA period.,Service connection was denied for heart disability as there is no established current condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence received, which may affect service connection for a heart disorder. The Veteran's claim is reopened but further examination and opinion are needed.

The Veteran's initial rating for heart disease is denied. Service connection for a cervical spine disability and GERD are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence added after the October 2017 SOC. The Veteran's representative will decide whether to waive initial AOJ consideration of this additional evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia and remanded the issue of service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease as secondary to schizophrenia.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include bilateral shoulder, elbow, lumbar spine, right ankle disabilities, as well as hypertension and a heart disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as due to herbicide exposure, is remanded. The AOJ must obtain relevant treatment records, determine the Veteran's presumed exposure status under the Blue Water Navy Act, schedule VA examinations, and address the claims based on the evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to his incarceration and failure to attend scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the October 2019 VA examination and medical opinion are inadequate for the heart disability claim. The Veteran's finger condition is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with his heart disability claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 5, 2015 for a 100 percent evaluation of his service-connected hypertensive heart disease. The evidence did not show any increase in disability within one year prior to the May 5, 2015 claim.

The Veteran's cause of death, congestive heart failure, is presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service. Service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for CAD, PTSD, diabetes, and Hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for further development.,Service connection has been granted for unspecified anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder as secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's heart conditions are related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected pulmonary fibrosis and his coronary artery disease. The VA examiner did not address a relevant article submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, melanoma, and a heart condition due to outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder claim is also remanded.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for ischemic heart disease and hypertension due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied for various conditions, including PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (including dementia), diabetes mellitus type II, prostate cancer, hypertension, a heart disorder (coronary artery disease, status post stent placement), a circulatory disorder, bilateral eye disorders (right eye blindness, double vision in the left eye, cataracts), lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, peripheral neuropathy of each extremity, radiculopathy of each extremity, and myelomalacia. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.,The Veteran's service connection claims were denied for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (including dementia), diabetes mellitus type II, prostate cancer, hypertension, a heart disorder (coronary artery disease, status post stent placement), a circulatory disorder, bilateral eye disorders (right eye blindness, double vision in the left eye, cataracts), lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, peripheral neuropathy of each extremity, radiculopathy of each extremity, and myelomalacia.