Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, including the claims of service connection for bilateral feet, bilateral knees, heart disorder, and neck disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy, as there may be outstanding private treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease, type II diabetes mellitus, and neuropathy have been denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure in service. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for direct service connection due to lack of onset within one year after service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, headache condition, and heart disability due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's lay statements regarding symptoms from his disabilities are considered.

The Board has remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease, DM, and stomach condition (gastritis and / or GERD) due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's service connection claims are pending.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for PTSD and heart condition due to insufficient evidence. A new VA examination is needed for both conditions.

The Veteran's heart disability is presumed to be related to his herbicide exposure while on temporary duty (TDY) orders at Udorn and Ubon, Thailand, and/or Da Nang, Vietnam. The Board granted service connection for the heart disability.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for ischemic heart disease prior to March 19, 2013 was denied. From March 19, 2013 to June 6, 2017, a higher rating of more than 60 percent was granted. The Veteran also received TDIU from July 1, 2013 to April 29, 2015.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disorder and bilateral leg pain due to lack of evidence showing the conditions are related to service. The Veteran's PTSD claim is remanded as there were errors in obtaining unit records.,Service connection for heart, skin, enlarged prostate, erectile dysfunction, and sinus disorders is also remanded due to lack of evidence showing the conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for a cognitive disorder and heart disorders, other than coronary artery disease, to include as secondary to service-connected disability. The Veteran's cognitive disorders are related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents during military service.,For the heart disorders, the VA examiner found that they were not directly incurred in service but may be proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn. The claim to reopen a respiratory disorder has been granted, but the Board finds that a remand is necessary to obtain a proper medical opinion regarding the etiology of his respiratory disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease, finding that there is no evidence of a direct link between his in-service shrapnel wound and his current heart condition. The Board also found insufficient evidence to support secondary service connection due to medications used to treat his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence, including missing private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents while serving aboard the U.S.S. Saint Paul, and further development is needed to determine if the ship was within 12 nautical miles of the shore of the Republic of Vietnam during the relevant time period.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, CAD, and xerostomia as not related to service or herbicide exposure.,The Board also denied service connection for xerostomia due to its presumed relationship with diabetes and CAD.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for scar residuals of head trauma, but the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and TBI have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim for referral to the Director of Compensation Service under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) due to some evidence suggesting that the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease may have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical examination and records, particularly regarding the Veteran's heart condition including palpitations and arrhythmia.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The evidence persuasively weighs against finding that the Veteran's ischemic heart disease began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease, to include exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's death was caused by refractory ventricular fibrillation due to ischemic cardiomyopathy as a consequence of coronary artery disease. The Board found that the appellant's assertions concerning in-service exposure to herbicide agents on the perimeter of Ubon RTAFB were credible, and service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted on a presumptive basis.