Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disability, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, traumatic brain injury, and polyarthropathy are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The Board has granted the Veteran's motion to vacate and now grants service connection for a heart disability, finding that it is at least in part caused by his service-connected bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus type II, and residuals of stroke.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder, but denied service connection for cervical spine and low back conditions. The claims of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) and hypertension are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and valvular disease, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or causal relationship to active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in the original decision, and a new medical opinion is needed regarding the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service in Thailand during the Vietnam era is presumed to have exposed him to herbicide agents, leading to a grant of service connection for his heart disorders under the PACT Act. His bilateral hearing loss remains at a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and peripheral neuropathy are granted, but the issue of service connection for peripheral neuropathy is remanded due to a lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further medical examinations and research into his claimed stressors. The Veteran is also seeking a higher disability rating for his left thumb condition.

The Board denied service connection for osteogenic sarcoma, solitary lymph node metastasis, and ischemic heart disease as the evidence did not establish that these conditions began during service or were related to an in-service injury or disease, including herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease and hypertension due to potential service connection issues, as well as TDIU. Additional development is needed including obtaining treatment records and completing a VA Form 21-8940.

The claims of service connection for liver disorder, hypertension, heart disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and left testicle disorder are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The Veteran's current diagnoses and potential in-service events will be evaluated.

The Board denied compensation for the claimed conditions, finding that they were not caused by or became worse as a result of the VA hernia surgery on July 14, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease, finding that the Veteran did not have herbicide exposure during his service in Korea and there was no evidence of a nexus between current conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical evidence regarding the Veteran's current heart disability involving palpitations and tachycardia, as well as conflicting opinions on whether it is related to service or a different condition. The Veteran needs further examination by a cardiologist.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service aboard the USS Taussig from August 1967 to November 1969 may have included presence within the territorial sea of Vietnam, which could potentially qualify for presumptive service connection under the Agent Orange Act. The case is being remanded to complete this verification.

Service connection is granted for ischemic heart disease, coronary artery disease (CAD), and cardiac ischemia, as well as type II diabetes, both presumed due to herbicide agent exposure under the PACT Act. The issue of service connection for hypertension is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's cause of death was related to his service, specifically his exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange). The case will be returned for a new examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disability, hypertension, heart disability, stroke residuals, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeals were not granted due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) disability is being remanded due to the Board's failure to consider METs testing results of 5.65 and 4.6 in February 2015 and March 2019, which were impacted by nonservice-connected factors.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and Type II diabetes mellitus related to herbicide agent exposure are granted.