Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing condition was aggravated by his period of active duty. However, it denied service connection for a cardiovascular disorder, concluding there is no clear and unmistakable evidence to support its claim.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) and TDIU claims are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination for CAD, as well as further development of the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disability and secondary to his service-connected hearing loss, tinnitus, and/or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a heart and carotid artery condition as a result of a right internal carotid endarterectomy performed at a VA facility on August 30, 2010, finding that the evidence did not support the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and an acquired psychiatric disability other than depressive disorder due to outstanding VA treatment records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, depressive disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease are being remanded due to inadequate examinations and need further development.

The Veteran's service-connected Ischemic Heart Disease/Coronary Artery Disease (IHD/CAD) alone does not meet the criteria for a Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal as he died during its pendency.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to comply with the duty to assist, specifically regarding METs exercise stress testing for coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate consideration of VA treatment records and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of herbicide agent exposure during the Veteran's entire period of deployment in Korea and a need for a VA examination to determine if his heart disability is related to service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's heart disability and hypertension are granted as presumptively related to herbicide agent exposure during service. Service connection for a lower back condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's heart disability, including hypertension and cardiomyopathy, is related to service, specifically presumed herbicide exposure. The examiner must also assess whether the disability is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's hypertension is remanded for further examination and opinion. The issues of service connection for ischemic heart disease with chronic congestive heart failure, status post triple bypass surgery (also claimed as coronary artery disease and hypertensive heart disease) and post-operative scars are also remanded due to their direct relationship to the hypertension issue.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, including as due to herbicide agent exposure. The evidence did not support a finding of ischemic heart disease or any other heart condition related to service, including herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's chest scar as a residual of a stab wound, right ear hearing loss disability, back disability, bilateral hip replacements, and supraventricular arrhythmia, AICD, and valvular heart disease with mitral and tricuspid regurgitation are all granted. The claims for service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

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 Board finds that the current disability is not related to service.,The Veteran has a current left shoulder disability, but the VA examiner opined that it is most probably due to age-related degenerative joint disease (DJD). Remand necessary for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability is inextricably intertwined with his left shoulder disability. Remand necessary for further examination and opinion on this issue.,The Veteran has a current headache condition, but did not report currently having them during the VA examination. Remand necessary for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran served at Camp Lejeune with presumed exposure to contaminated water. Service connection may be established on a direct basis if related to exposure. Remand necessary for VA examinations and opinions.,The Veteran has a current diabetes condition, but did not report currently having it during the VA examination. Remand necessary for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a heart condition due to incomplete records and insufficient examination opinions. Further development is needed, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for him to complete a VA Form 21-8940. The RO will provide another opportunity for the Veteran to submit this form, as his retirement due to service-connected heart disability has been noted.