Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for psychiatric disorders and secondary service connection for hypertension, PVD, sleep apnea, and ischemic heart disease. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is being examined again as it may be related to his service-connected tinnitus and hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability. The appeal regarding coronary artery disease (claimed as heart condition) is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and its relationship to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder; other specified trauma related disorder, diabetes mellitus, arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease), and peripheral neuropathy upper extremities have been granted. The claim for hypertension has been dismissed as moot.,Service connection is established for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide agent exposure and arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease) based on in-service exposure. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy upper extremities, lower extremities, and acne remains pending.

The Veteran's heart conditions, including implanted cardiac pacemaker, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, and personal history of mitral valve replacement, are presumed to be due to exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and opinions are needed to determine the relationship between the Veteran's claimed conditions and his active service, including any potential exposure to toxic substances. The claims for hypertension, heart condition, skin condition, spinal stenosis and degenerative arthritis of lumbar spine, gastrointestinal disorders (GERD), colon polyps, and respiratory disorder are all remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a heart disorder has been withdrawn.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder (claimed as 'digestion issues with acid reflux') has been withdrawn.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral shoulder condition and arteriosclerotic heart disease, but has remanded the claim of PTSD with anxiety and depression due to insufficient evidence.

The appeal is dismissed due to the deaths of both the Veteran and the appellant. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's appeals for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for coronary artery disease and an initial compensable rating for pleural plaques have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's ratings for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus have been restored to their original levels, effective August 17, 2021. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to December 4, 2020 has been dismissed as moot.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine DDD, hypertension, heart disability (claimed as a heart attack and stent), gastrointestinal disorder (IBS), and skin cancer due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's heart disability, which includes coronary artery disease with recurrent non-segment elevation myocardial infarction (heart disability), is now rated at 60 percent. The claim for service connection for hypertension has been remanded.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is found to be caused by in-service exposure to herbicides near the perimeter of the Nakhon Phanom and Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Bases. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's heart disability, specifically coronary artery disease post coronary artery bypass graft and valvular heart disease, is rated at a 60 percent level. The rating is granted based on the evidence showing that the Veteran experiences symptoms consistent with a MET's level of greater than 3 but less than 5.

The Board denied an effective date prior to February 25, 2022, for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's TDIU claim was submitted after his disability ratings were reduced and he did not appeal this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities of coronary artery disease, DMII and complications prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's TDIU is granted with an effective date of December 15, 2010, as the Board finds that he was unable to engage in substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities starting from this date.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a heart disorder, claimed as a result of VA medical treatment is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence after a final March 2013 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy and CAD have been granted effective August 10, 2022. The PACT Act presumption of herbicide exposure applies to the peripheral neuropathy claims.