Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling new examinations. The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for coronary artery disease and bilateral hearing loss are also being remanded.

The Board has found procedural defects in the appeal and remands the case for several issues, including service connection for colon cancer, heart disease, and reopening of a lumbosacral strain claim.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for coronary artery disease (CAD) with left ventricular dysfunction, as they found the VA examiner's opinion inadequate due to lack of service treatment records and insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, sick sinus syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, and essential hypertension as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee total arthroplasty. The VA is directed to obtain any outstanding service treatment records during the Veteran's Army Reserves period of service and provide additional examinations with appropriate VA examiners to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and service connection has been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease, residuals of malaria, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and a chronic skin disorder have been denied. The case is REMANDED to obtain in-service hospital records and provide the Veteran with an examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, including atherosclerosis of the aortic arch and nonobstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), has been granted due to new evidence showing diagnoses related to ischemic heart disease. The exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam is presumed.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle condition. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis, coronary artery disease, and left retropatellar pain syndrome are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new evaluation of his service-connected coronary artery disease with angina, status post myocardial infarction.

The Veteran's death benefits are being reviewed, including the disbursement of compensation owed at his time of death and a higher level of DIC benefits. The VA is required to conduct an audit of all funds due and paid to the Veteran and his fiduciary from January 2014 onwards. The appellant's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are also being considered.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death, and no final decision can be made on the service connection claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and erectile dysfunction due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under VA regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 12, 2006 for the award of a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran had established service connection for lumbar spine and bladder conditions, but his hypertension and heart issues also impacted his ability to work. The Board found that it was not factually ascertainable that his service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment within the year prior to his January 12, 2006 claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's heart disabilities are caused by or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and sleep apnea. The Veteran provided evidence suggesting a link between PTSD and heart conditions, but no such opinion was provided in the original decision.

The Veteran's heart disorder and low back disability are granted service connection due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran's Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is rated at 40 percent, with separate ratings denied for fatigue, dyspnea, light-headedness, and weight and appetite changes.

The Board has denied service connection for G6PD deficiency, heart condition, high blood pressure, and prostate condition as there is no evidence of these conditions during active service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, heart disorder, and sinusitis are being remanded due to the inadequacy of the January 2016 VA examination. The examiner did not consider the Veteran's lay reports or post-service treatment records in forming their opinions.

Your appeal for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent prior to March 10, 1995, and in excess of 30 percent from February 1, 2004, through May 14, 2009, for the service-connected coronary artery disease has been dismissed as you have withdrawn your appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, coronary artery disease, bladder cancer, and cause of death (lung cancer) due to herbicide agent exposure during the Veteran's service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board has ordered additional examinations and requested medical records for the Veteran's sleep apnea and heart disease claims due to insufficient evidence. The high cholesterol claim is denied as there is no current disability related to high cholesterol. The diabetes mellitus claim is denied because it did not manifest within one year of separation or is unrelated to service. The Board has ordered a VA examination for the Veteran's sleep apnea and heart disease claims.