Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric disorder and heart disease, prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of his CAD is denied, but he is granted TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to a change in law, specifically the PACT Act. The Veteran's claim is being reviewed again as it may be eligible based on his alleged exposure to herbicide agents during parachute training in Thailand.

The Board has granted service connection for STD residuals and remanded the heart disability claim. The SMC issue is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for heart disease and diabetes mellitus due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide agent exposure at Camp St. Barbara, South Korea.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the need based on his service-connected disabilities. Further medical opinion is required, including from a private rehabilitation facility records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for valvular heart disease and seizure disorder due to insufficient opinions from VA examiners. The Veteran is being asked to provide additional National Guard personnel records.

The Veteran's heart condition, including cardiomegaly, congestive heart failure, and tricuspid regurgitation, is being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for an opinion on whether these conditions are at least as likely as not caused by exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disease, including coronary artery disease (CAD), is not related to his active service, including exposure to burn pits in Southwest Asia. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities, and hypertension are denied as there is no credible evidence of herbicide exposure during service. The conditions were not shown to be related to service or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Veteran's death is due to ischemic heart disease, which the Board found presumptively related to his service in Vietnam. The claim for service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension, both secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), due to insufficient medical opinions addressing whether PTSD aggravated these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for ischemic heart disease due to a lack of an official diagnosis and insufficient evidence linking any current condition to service, particularly given presumed exposure to herbicides/Agent Orange.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED to address the issues of service connection for coronary artery disease, hypercholesterolemia, aortic valve disease, and left ventricular hypertrophy as well as his claim for TDIU prior to January 21, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, prostate cancer residuals, ischemic heart disease, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to prostate cancer residuals have all been granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board denied service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease and residuals of transient ischemic heart attacks, finding that the evidence did not support a relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the VA did not substantially comply with its remand instructions and thus the case is being returned for further development. The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.