Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease, type II diabetes, hypertension, and bilateral diabetic retinopathy are granted. The Board finds the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam, which is presumed for veterans who served in that region. As a result, these conditions are considered related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected heart disabilities are granted a 100 percent evaluation from October 9, 2017, to the present. The Veteran's surgical scar of the sternum is granted a 100 percent evaluation for its associated service-connected heart disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability and heart disease due to incomplete records, lack of VA examination, and need for updated medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, CAD at 60 percent, and IBS at 30 percent. TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The appeal regarding eligibility for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, or adaptive equipment only is denied. The appeal to readjudicate the heart disability claim based on new evidence is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to its inextricability with the pending service connection for COPD. The COPD claim is currently under review.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and needs a new one that addresses the Veteran's in-service heart symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative disc disease with spondylosis of the lumbar spine, hernia, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, acquired psychiatric disorder, and valvular heart disease have all been denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within the applicable presumptive period.,The Veteran's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired respiratory condition (asbestosis), coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus, finding that these conditions are related to his active-duty service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings and service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and a heart condition is remanded due to inconsistencies in the examination reports and need for further development regarding exposure to toxic environmental risks.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis, back condition, RLS, right leg condition, and left leg condition are not service-connected as they did not manifest during active duty or within a presumptive period.,Service connection for myocardial infarction (heart condition) and artery conditions is also denied.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension, as it may be secondary to a service-connected heart disability. The RO should obtain an addendum VA medical opinion to determine if hypertension is proximately due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected heart disability.

Your claim for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease) has been granted, and the appeal is dismissed as there are no longer any questions of law or fact to be decided.

The Board has denied service connection for pre-diabetes and remanded the issues of service connection for a heart condition and sinus bradycardia to obtain updated medical records and determine if there is a current diagnosis and etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for heart disorder. A new VA examination is needed to address whether the Veteran's heart disability was proximately due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for unspecified arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and heart disability due to incomplete documentation of all qualifying periods of service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, heart disability, liver disability, and diabetes mellitus type II due to lack of nexus opinions regarding his active service. The Veteran is also requested to provide an assessment of his level of exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II due to new and relevant evidence. The claim for ischemic heart disease is remanded as there was a pre-decisional error in obtaining an examination without a nexus opinion on whether a heart disorder is related to non-herbicide chemical exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain an opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD has aggravated his heart disability. The claim will be reviewed again with this information.