Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal should be re-docketed under the Legacy system and his February 2019 VA Form 10182 is accepted as a timely NOD for the issues on appeal. The Veteran will receive an SOC to address these issues, allowing him to perfect his appeal by filing a VA Form 9.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum opinion to address the etiology of the Veteran's heart disability, including ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, and coronary artery bypass graft. The service connection for both eye disability and heart disability remains in dispute.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities resulted in the need for regular aid and attendance due to his coronary artery disease, which caused him to be helpless and require assistance with daily activities. The Board found that he met the criteria for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for coronary artery disease status-post stent and PTSD have been denied. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Board has withdrawn the claims of service connection for psoriasis and heart disease, and has remanded the claims of service connection for psoriatic arthritis and chronic joint pain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer due to herbicide agent exposure are granted. The conditions are presumed based on the Veteran's proximity to the DMZ during active service.

The Veteran's hypertension, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, type II, asthma, sleep apnea, heart disability, and low back disability were not shown as chronic in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The evidence does not establish continuity of symptomatology for any of these conditions.,While the Veteran reported symptoms shortly after discharge from service, there is no medical evidence showing pertinent symptomatology until many years after separation.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected, with the onset likely during service and continuing since then.,The Veteran's CAD is also granted as secondary to his service-connected hypertension.,Service connection for an unspecified depressive disorder is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of development regarding potential herbicide exposure. The Veteran is seeking service connection for cardiovascular, pulmonary, and diabetes disabilities allegedly related to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease (CAD) as the Veteran did not file a claim prior to March 29, 2016.

The Veteran's initial 30 percent disability evaluation for coronary artery disease (CAD) has been granted. An evaluation in excess of 30 percent is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for Parkinson's disease, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease was granted due to the timely submission of a VA Form 9 on August 28, 2018.

The Board denied both the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection and his claim of CUE in the July 2008 rating decision. The Veteran was not granted service connection based on direct evidence, as there were no current disabilities or evidence linking them to service.

The Board has determined that another remand is required to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and bilateral foot disability due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents, as well as his service-connected PTSD and hypertension. The VA medical opinions provided were inadequate and need further clarification.

The Veteran's application for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to May 13, 2015 was denied as he did not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Board has remanded three issues: a claim for an increased rating for tension headaches, service connection for atrial septal defect heart disability and Gilbert's Disease with right kidney cyst. The claims are being reconsidered due to new VA treatment records associated after the Statement of the Case.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate nexus opinion, and the Veteran is advised to provide information about radar equipment exposure.

All issues on appeal are granted. Service connection is established for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected PTSD, back disability (including arthritis due to trauma and degenerative arthritis), polycythemia (claimed as leukemia) due to presumed herbicide exposure from Gulf War service, and heart disability due to presumed herbicide exposure from Gulf War service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence to support secondary service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for asthma and remanded the issues of service connection for a heart disorder, to include hyperlipidemia, atrial fibrillation and cardiomyopathy, and diabetes mellitus, type II.