Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Veteran's original claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease was denied in July 2014 due to lack of evidence showing a current disability. The case was remanded and the Veteran submitted new evidence indicating he had coronary artery disease as early as 1991, which is now considered a presumptive condition related to herbicide exposure. A new effective date of September 5, 2018 was assigned based on the receipt of the supplemental claim in September 2019.

The Veteran's eligibility for a higher level stipend under VA's PCAFC program is being remanded due to new evidence indicating his disability picture has worsened, affecting his ability to self-sustain in the community.

The Board has identified errors in the decision and has ordered remand for further development of evidence related to service connection claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease was denied due to the liberalizing law adding coronary artery disease (CAD) to the list of diseases associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents becoming effective August 31, 2010. The earliest available effective date for the grant of service connection is July 12, 2015.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional disability compensation and service connection for a heart condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder, as these issues are inextricably intertwined with the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to complications from a May 2017 colonoscopy.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, chronic pain syndrome, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower extremities, and heart disease (including coronary artery disease) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service and this exposure is presumed to cause the claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of traumatic brain injury and therefore cannot establish service connection for this condition. The issues of service connection for cardiovascular conditions (hypertensive heart disease and sinus tachycardia) and gastrointestinal condition (irritable bowel syndrome) are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claim of service connection for a heart disability, including coronary artery disease. The case will be remanded to allow for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for mantle cell lymphoma and remanded the issue of service connection for ischemic heart disease, including as due to herbicide exposure.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the Veteran's heart condition did not occur during service and is not related to any service-connected disability, thus denying service connection.

The Board denied service connection for atherosclerotic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension as secondary to atherosclerotic heart disease, shortness of breath as secondary to diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities. The denial is based on lack of evidence of herbicide exposure in Korea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, including as due to herbicide exposure and ionizing radiation, was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have ischemic heart disease during service or within one year thereafter.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, as due to herbicide exposure during his active duty in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and ischemic heart disease due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for hyperlipidemia, hypertension, cardiomyopathy, CAD, chronic kidney disease, and coronary artery disease due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's entire period of service in the U.S. Naval Reserve is requested.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, cardiovascular disability to include IHD and/or CAD, and prostate cancer residuals are granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide agent exposure in Thailand under the PACT Act. However, service connection for these conditions is also remanded to determine if they were incurred during active duty.

The Veteran's service connection for CAD/ischemic heart/bypass, diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction and hypertension, scar measuring 38.0 x 0.1cm, diabetic nephropathy, and major depressive disorder has been granted effective October 8, 2016.,An earlier effective date is not warranted as the Veteran did not file a claim prior to this date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for valvular heart disease is granted, with hypertension being the underlying condition.,Service connection for hypertension is granted under the PACT Act.