Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension, finding that exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune led directly to the development of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should receive a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to need regular aid and attendance. The examiner will assess whether he requires assistance with daily activities, dressing, feeding, hygiene, mobility, and confinement.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease with atrial fibrillation is rated at 60 percent, effective February 11, 2023. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains noncompensable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment during the period from April 29, 2016, to January 9, 2019.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected healed stab wound of right anterior chest.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD) should be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed herbicide exposure and other potential risk factors. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent evaluation, the highest available under the rating criteria. The other conditions have either not met their respective criteria for increased evaluations or are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases of a heart disability and a chest disability for further development due to inadequate opinions in previous evaluations.

The Board has determined that the appeal must be remanded again due to the need for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims related to his heart, lung, and prostate disabilities as a result of radiation exposure during service. The VA Undersecretary for Benefits concluded there is no reasonable possibility that these conditions can be attributed to ionizing radiation exposure.

The Veteran's lumbar spine and right shoulder disabilities are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's liver condition is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and left below the knee amputation qualify him for specially adapted housing, as his disabilities preclude locomotion without assistive devices.

The Veteran's Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ACD) is granted. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Heart Diseases, other than ACD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed heart conditions. The AOJ must obtain adequate opinions from an independent medical expert specializing in cardiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure by the VA examiner to address a specific medical article in their previous opinion. The Veteran's sleep apnea is being reviewed again for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence of onset and etiology, requiring VA examinations. The PACT Act presumption applies to TERA exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, which the Board finds insufficient to meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran's CAD is rated at 60 percent and also does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD) due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, finding that the Veteran's current IHD is more likely than not related to his service.

The Veteran's claims for compensation for kidney and heart diseases are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether VA care caused these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for congestive heart failure with dilated right ventricle, dilated right and left atrium (claimed as heart disease defect) is dismissed under the modernized review system.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 100% disability rating for ischemic heart disease, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the September 2016 rating decision that reduced it to 60%. The reduction is therefore voided.