Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, finding that the Veteran's heart disorder is not related to his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and whether his service-connected disabilities contributed to his death.

The Veteran died from cardiopulmonary arrest due to atherosclerotic heart disease and end stage renal failure. The Board found that the cause of death was not related to service-connected conditions, thus denying service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, finding that there is no link between his current disabilities and service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining clarification of the Veteran's employment history and a VA examination to assess the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work. The TDIU claim is also being referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

Service connection for a heart disorder, including hypertension, is granted.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a heart disorder other than hypertension remains denied.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder. Service connection was granted for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the cases for further research and analysis to determine if the U.S.S. Ranger was within the 12 nautical mile territorial waters of Vietnam on December 1, 1968.

The Board found that the Veteran's additional cardiovascular, esophageal, pulmonary, and lumbar spine disorders are not due to VA negligence or fault during treatment for lung cancer.

The Board has found that the Veteran's rectal bleeding, hypercholesterolemia, and hyperlipidemia are not related to his service. The heart condition (pericarditis), dyspnea, and phlebitis and thrombophlebitis claims have been remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease symptoms meet the criteria for a rating of 100 percent prior to March 2, 2011, and grants this rating effective September 11, 2002.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, right ear hearing loss disability, and vertigo have been denied due to lack of current diagnoses.,Service connection has also been denied for hypertension, kidney disease, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral upper extremity and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and a cardiovascular disorder (including CAD).,The Veteran's claim for entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has also been denied.

The Board has remanded the cases due to concerns about the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) and a need for a more contemporaneous examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is granted under the PACT Act. The claim for service connection for a heart condition, including non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (claimed as ischemic heart disease), gastric ulcer, peptic ulcer, anemia, calculi of the gall bladder, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower and upper extremities, and PTSD is reopened due to new evidence received since the last final denial in November 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, and erectile dysfunction, did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to March 14, 2012.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate are granted effective February 13, 2020. The Board also referred the issue of whether a TDIU can be awarded based on the disabling effects of any of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities to include his heart disability for further action.

The Veteran's vascular dementia is granted as secondary to his service-connected ischemic heart condition. He is also granted a 60 percent rating for ischemic heart condition from March 27, 2013 to February 23, 2015.

The Board has resolved reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, finding that his heart disability is related to service and granting service connection for a heart disability for substitution purposes.

The Board has withdrawn the claim for increased rating for erectile dysfunction and remanded the claims of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression) and coronary artery disease with angina. The case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is found to be related to his military service, and the claim for service connection is granted.