Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional error in obtaining a relevant Army report. The Veteran's cause of death is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for Parkinson's disease, bladder cancer, and ischemic heart disease due to a lack of verification regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart conditions, right ankle condition, left wrist condition, and right wrist condition due to insufficient evidence. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for CAD prior to November 10, 2017 was denied. Effective December 30, 2015, the Veteran received service connection for scars related to his CAD and right lower lateral abdomen.,An effective date of December 30, 2015 but no earlier for the award of service connection for scar, right lower lateral abdomen is granted.,An effective date of December 30, 2015 but no earlier for the award of service connection for scar, CAD is granted.

The Board has determined that the Appellant is a proper substitute claimant for the claims pending at the time of the Veteran's death. As such, the service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and bipolar disorder with psychotic episodes are remanded for further adjudication.

The Board has remanded the claims for Parkinson's disease, bladder cancer, and ischemic heart disease due to a lack of verification regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for Parkinson's disease, ischemic heart disease, and diabetes mellitus type II due to potential herbicide exposure while serving aboard the USS Enterprise and USS Coral Sea. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran's exact location during his service, including whether he served in Korea near the DMZ.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disability including coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation, and hypertension due to potential chemical exposure during service. The Veteran's service records indicate she was stationed at Fort McClellan1966-1968. A VA doctor opined that her current diabetes mellitus is likely related to her military service and exposures.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 60 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) status post coronary artery bypass graft is denied. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination report, specifically regarding METs testing for coronary artery disease with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's physical and/or mental impairment needs to be evaluated in relation to his service-connected ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of a heart disorder, making the issue moot.

The Veteran's heart disability and Parkinson's disease were not found to have onset during service or be related to service, including herbicide agent exposure. The Board denied both claims as there was no direct evidence linking the disabilities to service.

The Veteran's initial rating for ischemic heart disease is denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The claim for TDIU from January 31, 2016 to April 2, 2021 is also denied.

The appeal for an earlier effective date prior to September 11, 2013 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,New and material evidence has not been received sufficient to reopen the claim for Parkinson's Disease.,New and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen the claim for a heart condition. Service connection is granted pursuant to the PACT Act.,New and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities (excluding chondromalacia) have been denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.,Service connection was granted for right knee chondromalacia, but the Veteran's claims for other knee disabilities remain on appeal.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 60 percent rating for ischemic heart disease, finding that there was no actual improvement in his condition and thus the reduction from 10 percent to 60 percent was improper.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, heart disability, skin disability (tinea manus), headaches, and vertigo due to inadequate development and failure to provide proper notice regarding fees for obtaining medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure. The conditions are presumed based on the Veteran's in-service travel to Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease associated with herbicide exposure was granted, effective August 31, 2010. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected ischemic heart disease.