Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for further verification of the Veteran's claimed in-service herbicide agent exposure, specifically regarding his assertion that he was exposed while traveling on a C-130 aircraft from Fort Campbell to Detroit, Michigan, in approximately July 1967.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities have been granted service connection.,Service connection for a heart disability has not been established.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease has worsened since his last VA examination, and a more contemporaneous medical examination is needed to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Board has granted service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and ischemic heart disease. The issues of secondary service connection for anosmia, ageusia, peripheral neuropathy, cognitive disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorders are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to uncertainty regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents while serving on the U.S.S. Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR). The logbooks show at least one mark indicating landfall in Vietnam, but it is unclear whether this indicates within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam or along the rivers of Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a heart disability due to incomplete records and further development is needed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) due to exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange. The Veteran reported a layover in Da Nang, Vietnam during his military service and provided credible testimony and supporting documents.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but denied service connection for heart disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's heart condition, including racing heartbeat symptoms, is secondary to his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder and a higher initial disability rating in excess of zero percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, left shoulder disability, coronary artery disease (CAD), tinnitus, and hearing loss, have limited him to sedentary work since October 4, 2006. The Board finds that his service-connected conditions precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education, skills, training, and work history from October 4, 2006 to January 11, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, heart disability, bladder disability, bowel disability, and erectile dysfunction have been denied as there is no evidence of a direct connection to service. The Board found that the Veteran did not provide sufficient information or competent medical opinions to support these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,The Veteran's coronary artery disease is currently rated at 60 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher initial evaluation.,The Veteran's prostate cancer has been in remission during the period on appeal, with voiding dysfunction as the predominant residual. The current rating of 60 percent is the maximum for this condition.

The Board has dismissed all claims for service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and dismissed the TDIU claim as moot due to the Veteran's receipt of a 100% rating for coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for vascular dementia, which was secondary to ischemic heart disease, has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's cardiovascular disability, including ischemic heart disease/coronary artery disease, was granted a 100% rating effective July 3, 2017. The appeal is dismissed as moot for the issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to November 1, 2013.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding his visual disturbances related to hypertension. The VA will obtain an addendum from the examiner who completed the October 2021 VA hypertension disability benefits questionnaire.

The Board has remanded the case to develop evidence and determine if the Veteran is eligible for a TDIU from February 7, 2006, to January 25, 2011, due to his service-connected ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for supraventricular arrhythmia (SA) is denied as the maximum schedular rating authorized under DC 7010 has been assigned.