Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Board has denied service connection for bladder cancer, heart condition, hypothyroidism, migratory inflammatory arthritis of the elbows, wrists, fingers, thumbs, hips, and knees, as well as left and right shoulder conditions due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.,Service connection was not granted because there is no medical evidence showing that any of the claimed conditions were incurred or aggravated during military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and prostate cancer, both linked to herbicide agent exposure. Additional development is needed to obtain all relevant VA treatment records.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an initial compensable disability rating for the service-connected chest scar. The earlier effective date claim for the assignment of a 100 percent disability rating for coronary artery disease is denied as it is not factually ascertainable that the Veteran's disability increased in severity prior to his April 18, 2022 claim. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for anxiety and depression.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of heart disorder, diabetes mellitus, and degenerative disc disease due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error in the April 2023 VA medical opinion, which did not consider the clinical significance of the Veteran's coronary calcification and atherosclerotic plaques.

The Veteran's hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are all granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure under the PACT Act.,VA has ordered additional examinations for COPD, BPH, and residuals of a stroke secondary to diabetes.

The Veteran's heart disability is rated at 60 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating is appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic kidney disease, non-obstructive coronary artery disease with congestive heart failure, and diabetes mellitus, type II, all of which are presumed to be related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,Right leg amputation is not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide agent exposure and that the Veteran's conditions were not related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD), prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus, type II, as there was no evidence of herbicide exposure in service or any other basis for service connection.

Your service connection claims have been granted, but the Board cannot provide further relief as your benefits are now fully awarded.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition and lower back condition are remanded as there may be outstanding treatment records relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae is remanded due to the possibility of existing but unassociated medical evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral flat feet is remanded because no VA examination has been conducted yet.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, secondary to PTSD, is remanded as there may be outstanding treatment records relevant to this claim.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's atherosclerotic coronary artery disease and chronic pulmonary disease were related to his service, including hypertension. The case is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure to herbicide agents, and the need for further medical opinions on the etiology of his conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected heart disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 60%, and his service-connected painful anterior trunk scar warrants a compensable (10%) rating. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his TDIU claim from January 30, 2012 onward.

The Veteran's hepatitis is denied as it was not caused by VA treatment.,The Veteran's low back disability, hypertension, heart disability and residual of stroke disability are all denied due to lack of service connection.

The Veteran's heart disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, right shoulder disability, back disability, and allergy disability are not service-connected. However, hypertension is granted as a result of presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease with atrial fibrillation, due to in-service herbicide exposure, is granted. The effective date of the award is set at August 14, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal for retroactive pay for the period from March 3, 2022, to September 30, 2022 is denied as he has already received the proper disability compensation amounts.