Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's WPW syndrome worsened beyond its natural progression during service. The VA examiner is requested to provide a clarifying opinion on this question.

The Board has dismissed the appellant's freestanding claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for ischemic heart disease. The appeal is also remanded for a Statement of the Case regarding the assignment of a 100 percent rating for ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lung cancer, ischemic heart disease, bladder cancer and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, insomnia, anxiety) are remanded due to the need for further development regarding exposure to herbicides in Vietnam or Alaska.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including CAD, PTSD, and diabetes, rendered him unable to follow substantially gainful employment as of March 12, 2020. The Board granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetic nephropathy with hypertension and hypertensive heart disease is remanded due to conflicting medical evidence regarding early manifestations.

The appeal regarding the initial rating for service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) is being remanded to allow the VA regional office to adjudicate the issue.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating prior to August 16, 2018, for coronary artery disease was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and the role of his service-connected disabilities in causing or aggravating obesity, which led to hypertension and heart disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore the TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a heart condition was granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for coronary artery disease as due to herbicide agent exposure.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to service-connected COPD is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a heart disorder during or within one year after service and not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) with history of myocardial infarction associated with hypertension, resolving the Veteran's appeal. As a result, there are no unresolved issues and the appeal is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, which is secondary to his service-connected coronary heart disease and/or type 2 diabetes, has been remanded due to inadequate opinion regarding the relationship between these conditions.

The Veteran's heart disability and diabetes mellitus are granted service connection based on herbicide agent exposure in the Republic of Vietnam, with the benefit of doubt favoring the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not render him unemployable prior to July 19, 2012. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's medical history and the need for additional records. The Veteran's heart condition is being reviewed again with a focus on his entire medical history.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertensive heart disease, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an ophthalmologic condition are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the appeals due to incomplete records and requests for education and professional background information. The claims will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's potential in-service exposure to herbicide agents or proximity to Vietnam's territorial sea. Further research is needed.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for liver condition, dermatitis, and heart condition due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's claims are not supported by competent evidence showing a current disability resulting from in-service injury or disease.