Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, including WPW and PVCs, finding that the condition pre-existed service and was not aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability, bilateral hearing loss, asthma, and heart disorder was denied. The Veteran's PTSD claim was granted.,Service connection is denied for the following conditions: neck disability, bilateral hearing loss, asthma, and heart disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and hypertension due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 60 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) from July 25, 2014 to November 11, 2020 was denied. A separate 100 percent rating for implanted cardiac pacemaker was granted from May 15, 2015 to July 15, 2015 and a 10 percent rating for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation effective July 15, 2015 was also granted.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease are being remanded for further examination and medical opinions to determine their relationship to service exposure. The claims will be considered on the merits.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disability and hypertension, finding that the Veteran's experiences as a military police officer during active duty are at least as likely as not related to his current conditions.

The Veteran's CLL is granted on a presumptive basis due to the PACT Act. The claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and service connection for secondary conditions related to fluroquinolone toxicity are remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of diabetes mellitus, heart disability, bilateral heel disability, and hypertension as they are not eligible to be adjudicated due to the appellant's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his combined disability rating was not sufficient to meet the criteria for a TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected conditions alone.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, including ischemic heart disease and/or bundle branch blockage, has been remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The Board found that the evidence is relevant and sufficient to reopen the claim.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease, finding that the Veteran's formal claim was filed on November 30, 2020 and thus no earlier effective date is assignable.

The Board has remanded the claims due to an error in not considering the PACT Act, which may provide additional service connection based on exposure to toxic substances during military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% disability rating for coronary artery disease, angina, and myocardial infarction was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC based on housebound status was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for DEA eligibility was denied.,The issue of entitlement to a TDIU is moot due to the Veteran having been granted a 100% rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty-to-assist error, and will consider all evidence submitted by the Veteran or her representative.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his Vietnam-era service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for various conditions, including allergic rhinitis, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, hernia condition, right ankle and leg disabilities, sinusitis, cervical spine and lumbar spine conditions, chronic heart disease, chronic heart failure, hypertension, and sleep apnea. The appeals were all denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding service connection and rating issues. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy, but the claims for heart disorder, prostate disorder, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and diabetes mellitus are all remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction as secondary to prostate cancer, hypertension, arthritis, heart condition, fatigue (including CFS), and a condition of the bilateral upper extremities (peripheral neuropathy) are granted. The conditions are presumed due to exposure to burn pits during service in Egypt.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding service connection claims, including those related to tonsil cancer and kidney damage with stones. The coronary artery disease claim remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities and for service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart condition, and stroke residuals are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.