Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Board has dismissed the appellant's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and Parkinson's disease as they are Nehmer class member claims. The appeal is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, claimed as heart palpitations, is granted. The Board finds additional development is required to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed respiratory and hypertension conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the appellant's address and a need for further examination. The SMP claim is still pending.

The Veteran's PTSD and CAD with sinus bradycardia are not rated higher than the current assigned ratings. The rating for scars on the right foot is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's heart disorder and secondary service connection for hypertension. The claim will be further evaluated with new addendum opinions from a VA examiner.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that neither his hypertension nor ischemic heart disease were related to herbicide exposure. The Board also found no evidence linking end stage renal disease to service and concluded that a disability of service origin did not contribute to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a heart disability and secondary conditions related to those disabilities, need further review due to insufficient evidence in some cases.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to incomplete VA examination and lack of private medical records. The heart disability claim is related to service, but the finger condition may be secondary to the heart disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities met the schedular rating requirements and rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from July 13, 2022, through April 16, 2023. Beginning April 17, 2023, when his combined rating went into effect at 100%, no individual service-connected disability rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease are granted as they were incurred during his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the claim for cause of death is denied.

The Board dismissed the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected heart disability, as the issue of service connection has been resolved and an initial TDIU was not filed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disease, to include congestive heart failure, ventricular arrhythmias, and cardiomyopathy, is currently rated at 0 percent. The evidence does not support a higher rating as his condition remains unchanged from its baseline level.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of October 2, 2020 for special monthly compensation based on housebound status is granted. The Veteran has a single disability rated as 100% disabling (coronary artery disease) and additional disabilities with combined ratings of at least 60%, meeting the criteria for housebound status.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to herbicide agent exposure, as there is insufficient information to verify his alleged in-service exposure in Guam. The pleural effusion claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the coronary artery disease claim.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, cysts, acne, and coronary artery disease have been granted. The claim for degenerative arthritis (left knee osteoarthritis) is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's CAD was previously rated at 10 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating is warranted for the period prior to December 10, 2021.,For the period from December 10, 2021, the Veteran is now entitled to a 100 percent rating due to his CAD.

The Board has granted DIC and accrued benefits, so the appeal is dismissed as there are no remaining justiciable issues.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for CAD and service connection for kidney cancer are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's cardiac disability, specifically coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction and stable angina, has been rated at a 60 percent since April 6, 2022. The rating is based on heart failure symptoms manifesting at a workload of 3 to 5 METs.