Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease (CAD), right and left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy (PN), bilateral lower extremity femoral nerve PN, and bilateral lower extremity sciatic, tibial, and popliteal nerves PN have been denied. The effective dates for these claims are not granted.,The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance has also been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected heart disability, coronary artery disease, prevents him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU claim based on this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease, both presumed to be related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service onboard the USS Hancock.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II are granted due to presumed exposure during service in Thailand. The claims for Alzheimer's disease and dementia, right knee ACL tear and meniscus degenerative changes, depression, lumbar spine degenerative changes with lordosis, and right shoulder acromioclavicular joint impingement with mild tendinopathy are denied.,The Veteran was granted presumptive service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II under the PACT Act. The claims for Alzheimer's disease and dementia, right knee ACL tear and meniscus degenerative changes, depression, lumbar spine degenerative changes with lordosis, and right shoulder acromioclavicular joint impingement with mild tendinopathy remain denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of coronary artery bypass graft with atherosclerotic heart disease, myocardial infarction, valvular heart disease and heart valve replacement was granted effective November 11, 2021. The Board found that the Veteran had qualifying service in Thailand for the purposes of the presumption of exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examinations and medical opinions, as the PACT Act requires such examinations if evidence of participation in toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) is provided. The claims are related to asbestos exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease with cardiomyopathy, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents while serving aboard the USS Hornet in Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for hypothyroidism and ischemic heart disease, finding that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of these conditions or their relationship to service. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in service was conceded.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of a heart disability due to the appellant's withdrawal before a decision was made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no new and relevant evidence presented to support the original denials. The Board found that none of the conditions claimed are related to his active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 24, 2007 for the grant of service connection for a heart disability (coronary artery disease/CHF). The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for coronary artery disease, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and bipolar disorders), and TDIU due to issues with substantial compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's heart disorder, specifically whether it is related to her service-connected asthma.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, finding that there was no evidence linking his current heart condition to any event or injury in service. The decision also noted that the Veteran had been exposed to asbestos during service but this exposure did not appear to be related to his heart condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, service connection for a liver disability (hepatitis C and cirrhosis), and service connection for a heart disability due to incomplete or inadequate evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's cardiomyopathy and his service-connected coronary artery disease, as well as whether diabetes mellitus type II caused or aggravated the cardiomyopathy.

The Veteran's initial 30 percent rating for coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction is granted prior to March 22, 2010. The appeal is denied for ratings greater than 30 percent from March 22, 2010, to November 16, 2021, and for a rating greater than 60 percent thereafter.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder and hepatitis C, finding that the evidence did not support these claims.,Service connection was also denied for cause of death due to lack of evidence linking the Veteran's renal failure to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to a compensable rating for migraine headaches and service connection for a heart condition, as secondary to service-connected disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, including as due to in-service exposure to an herbicide agent (Agent Orange), finding that there was no evidence linking his current heart disability to active service or presumed in-service exposure to Agent Orange.