Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the appellant should be considered as a substitute party for the Veteran's pending appeals, but more information is needed to make this determination. The appeal regarding service connection and recognition of M.U.H. as the child will also need to be addressed.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to herbicide agents in Korea.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus due to potential exposure at Guantanamo Bay during a training exercise.

The Veteran's atherosclerotic coronary artery disease did not preclude a workload less than 5 metabolic equivalents of task (METs), resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope.,The cervical spine disability manifested by subjective complaints of chronic neck pain and flares; objective findings do not demonstrate flexion limited to 15 degrees or less, or favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service event, injury or disease and the weight of the evidence is against a finding that his current condition is related to service.,The Veteran's low back condition, heart condition, diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, and acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) are remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been submitted. The Veteran's heart conditions, diabetes mellitus type II, and lower extremity neuropathies are not presumed to be related to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to additional development and examination.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, but denied service connection for major depressive disorder. The decision is based on the presumption of herbicide exposure in Vietnam and the Veteran's medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The issues include heart disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, back disability, kidney disability, urinary disability, right leg muscle disability, esophageal/gastrointestinal disability, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right ankle scar.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal of his December 2015 rating decision, finding that his January 2017 Notice of Disagreement was untimely and not supported by good cause.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, serous otitis, and heart disability are all denied. The claim for residuals of cold injuries to the fingers is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for nasal bones with deviation to the right was denied. The Board found that the current condition did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent.,The claim of service connection for hypertensive heart disease with congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy was previously denied in May 2013, but new evidence received since then does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. The Board did not reopen this claim as it found no material evidence.,The claim of service connection for hypertension was previously denied in February 2013 and reopened due to new evidence showing recent VA treatment, but the new evidence did not show that the condition was related to service or manifested within one year of discharge. The Board denied reopening this claim as well.,The claim of service connection for a neck disability was previously denied in May 2012 and reopened due to new evidence showing recent VA treatment, but the new evidence did not show that the condition was related to service or manifested within one year of discharge. The Board denied reopening this claim as well.

Service connection is granted for coronary artery disease and hypertension. The Veteran's atrial fibrillation, implanted cardiac pacemaker, and sick sinus syndrome status post VVI pacemaker placement are remanded due to inadequate opinions.,Service connection is granted for a skin disability (residuals of jungle rot, actinic keratosis, melanoma) as due to herbicide agent exposure and/or sunlight exposure. The Veteran's diagnoses of neoplasm of unspecified behavior of bone, soft tissue, and skin, angioma, and lentigo are remanded due to inadequate opinions.

The Veteran's use of hydrocortisone 1% cream, triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% cream, and miconazole nitrate 2% cream for service-connected skin conditions is approved as a clothing allowance for the year 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) prior to November 6, 2018 is denied as there is no evidence of chronic congestive heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of less than 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for ischemic and non-ischemic heart disease, as well as his left knee condition. The remand is due to insufficient development regarding Agent Orange exposure and an inadequate VA examination for the left knee.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and TDIU for coronary artery disease was denied. The evidence did not support the assignment of ratings higher than 10 percent prior to March 26, 2020, or 60 percent prior to March 27, 2021. As of March 27, 2021, a 10 percent rating was assigned for coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and higher ratings for rhinitis, hypertensive heart disease, aerophagia, DMII, and sleep apnea have been dismissed. The claims of secondary service connection for these conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection for ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease) is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service. The issues of entitlement to initial compensable ratings for right great toe injury, dermatitis, bilateral foot disability, gastrointestinal disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded as additional evidence was received prior to certification and transfer to the Board.