Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, finding that it was aggravated by the veteran's service-connected hypertension.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's disabilities. The effective date for service connection for tinnitus remains June 14, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence linking heart disease and headaches to service. The Veteran's eligibility for specially adapted housing is denied as he does not meet the criteria.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating and effective date for his service-connected heart disability is denied. The current effective date of March 14, 2016 remains unchanged as the criteria do not meet the conditions for earlier effective dates.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, as there is no evidence of current diagnosis or history of cardiomyopathy during the pendency of this claim.,The claims for thyroid nodule, lung nodule, gastroenteritis, ulcers, and GERD are remanded due to failure to appear for VA examinations.

The Veteran's cause of death is granted due to his service-connected coronary artery disease and diabetes, which materially contributed to his death. However, DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied as the Veteran did not meet the requirements for a total disability rating at any point prior to his death.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death due to lack of competent medical evidence showing a service-connected disability as the primary or contributory cause of death. The Veteran's cause of death was listed as cardiac arrhythmia on his original death certificate, and later updated to heart attack in 2017. There is no evidence linking these causes of death to any service-connected condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a lack of VA examination. The Veteran's heart disability is being reviewed again for proper service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to October 24, 2017.

The Board denied service connection for left and right hip disabilities, as well as a heart disability. The decision found that the evidence did not support a nexus to active service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional medical opinions on whether his heart disabilities are related to service, and for an opinion on whether his bilateral hearing loss disability is related to service. The issues of TDIU and right AV block are also inextricably intertwined with these other issues.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals and coronary artery bypass are rated appropriately. The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of an acquired psychological condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, both presumed due to herbicide exposure, are granted. The claim for peripheral neuropathy is remanded as there is no evidence of early onset peripheral neuropathy or a link to the Veteran's diabetes.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, which was caused by in-service exposure to herbicide agents, led to his acute renal failure and death. Therefore, service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is granted service connection as due to exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange, during his service at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from February 4, 2015 to May 2, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and prostate cancer are granted. The appeal for an increased evaluation for hearing loss disability is dismissed, and the claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, granting a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and readjudication, including obtaining Vet Center records related to his Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include cyst on stomach, heart condition, and bilateral pes planus.