Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the TDIU claim for further development, including obtaining a retrospective VA medical opinion on the functional impact of the Veteran's service-connected conditions during the specified period.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities, and diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The claims were also denied as secondary to other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, a sleep condition, and a heart condition are being remanded. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety) is also being remanded.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and TDIU are being remanded.,,,,

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service at Ubon RTAFB.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, atherosclerotic heart disease, sleep apnea, and residuals of plantar warts of the right foot, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to February 18, 2014. The Board has granted TDIU effective from February 26, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for a heart condition as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, diagnosed as CAD with atrial fibrillation, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not causally related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder, including as secondary to Agent Orange exposure, finding that there was no evidence of in-service exposure and insufficient evidence to establish a relationship between his current condition and service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his death was not caused by or related to any condition incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, but denied service connection for a heart disability due to lack of evidence of herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD)/coronary artery disease (CAD) with atrial fibrillation, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities. Service connection was denied for a heart disability other than IHD/CAD with atrial fibrillation, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and lung condition.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD) as the Veteran did not have IHD at the time of his death and there was no evidence of IHD during his lifetime.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD) due to Agent Orange exposure, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance regarding whether the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during his active-duty service.

The Veteran's CAD is rated at 60 percent prior to December 9, 2015 and denied for a higher rating from that date. The Veteran also has other service-connected conditions (thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease and hypertension) which prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus qualifying for TDIU.

The Board has denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and type II diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions. The case is remanded to verify the Veteran's claimed exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for CAD, claimed as due to herbicide agent exposure, is remanded. The Board found new and material evidence since the last final denial of his claim.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for plantar warts of the left foot, stomach disability, and rash and skin conditions (claimed as rash located in the groin area) have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the appellant.,The Veteran's right inguinal hernia was not rated higher than 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for short-term memory loss, bilateral hearing loss, fatigue, a heart disorder, and gastroesophageal reflux disease due to new evidence not being received.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral lower extremity PVD and CAD due to incomplete medical records and inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the conditions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant VA treatment records, including from Northport VAMC and Long Island Community Hospital. An adequate opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's PVD must be obtained, as well as an evaluation of his CAD severity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The issues on appeal include service connection for various conditions, with some cases involving exposure to herbicide or mustard gas and others requiring consideration of pre-existing conditions.