Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and examination, as there is evidence of worsening in the Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease (IHD).

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to clarify the severity of the Veteran's CAD prior to June 20, 2016 and to determine if he experienced a myocardial infarction within three months of August 6, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's heart disability is related to service, specifically exposure to non-ionizing radiation or secondary to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD) as it had its onset in service.

The Board has decided to remand the current issues on appeal due to incomplete requests for private medical records and a need to notify the Appellant of the incomplete VA Form 21-4142. The case will be returned to the Board after compliance with these actions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed as moot due to the full grants of benefits. The petition to reopen his service connection claim for left and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities are found to have caused her coronary artery disease, with obesity as an intermediate step. The Board has granted the claim for service connection for coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's appeal for initial disability ratings for coronary heart disease is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease and sleep apnea due to additional theories of entitlement not previously addressed, including whether PTSD with anxiety disorder caused or aggravated these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's heart condition was not service connected due to lack of in-service diagnosis or treatment and the absence of a causal link to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a heart condition as secondary to prescribed medication for PTSD due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's PTSD with bipolar disorder caused or aggravated his diagnosed cardiovascular conditions, including coronary artery disease.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for left infrascapular and posterior axillary region scars, increased ratings for diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathies, and ischemic heart disease, as well as an earlier effective date for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection for hypertension is granted under the PACT Act, and his secondary service connection for hypertensive heart disease is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, coronary artery disease, and diabetic retinopathy due to conflicting information regarding his service in Thailand. The PACT Act is applicable for these claims.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, is granted. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus are denied. Arteriosclerotic heart disease to include coronary artery disease and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus, are remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim for referral to the VA Director of Compensation Service for consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) from September 3, 2015 due to evidence suggesting the service-connected disabilities may have rendered the Veteran unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertensive heart disease, finding that it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of ambulance transport to UPHS Marquette on April 3, 2017 is granted. The Board found that all requirements under 38 C.F.R. § 17.1003 were met, including the treatment being provided in a hospital emergency department and the Veteran's financial liability for the ambulance services.