Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease and hypertension have been granted a total disability evaluation and a compensable rating, respectively. The decision is based on the Veteran's service-connected conditions and does not involve any presumption or exposure basis.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of a heart disability due to withdrawal by the appellant. The issue of service connection for bee sting allergy is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left hip disability, to include as secondary to a left knee disability, is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for a heart disorder due to chemical gas exposure and/or a left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to Camp Lejeune contaminated water and herbicide agents, including cardiovascular disabilities, kidney disability, bilateral hearing loss, and left distal fibular fracture residuals. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional medical opinions regarding his headaches and other conditions. The heart disability remains denied, but the issues of service connection for headaches, right arm and hand shakes when pressure is applied, and pain between shoulder blades, turning of neck, and turning of whole body to look in direction of driving are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded multiple service connection claims due to the need for additional VA examinations and the need to obtain certain medical records. The Veteran's claims include various symptoms such as sleep apnea, hypertension, heart disability, joint pain, kidney issues, diabetes, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for a heart disorder, including aortic stenosis; thoracolumbar spine disorder; and tinnitus. The Veteran is asked to provide any missing medical records from his employment physical and service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete records of his reserve service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bladder cancer and ischemic heart disease, finding that there is no evidence of herbicide exposure or service in Vietnam. The disabilities were not shown to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypothyroidism, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The appellant's in-service exposure to herbicide agents is suspected but not verified. A TERA examination will be scheduled if verification of exposure occurs.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a heart disability have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claims in October 2021.

The Board has remanded the claims for further evidentiary development due to insufficient medical opinions addressing secondary service connection and aggravation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during his military service on or near the Thai perimeter.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, neck disability, low back disability, right hip disability, heart disability, and residuals of strokes are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for the conditions listed, with presumptive exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a disease or injury during active duty and insufficient continuity of symptomatology to establish service connection.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate condition, erectile dysfunction, bilateral kidney condition, bilateral eye condition, and heart condition. The claims were also remanded for hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and pericarditis post myocardial infarction are currently rated at 30 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating as there is no current congestive heart failure or workload of greater than 5 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope.

The Board has determined that further examination and opinion are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The issues of secondary service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder have also been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for anterior cruciate ligament right knee and left knee are not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, migraine headaches as secondary to a service-connected mental health disability, heart condition (angina), and respiratory condition (obstructive airway disease).,The Veteran's claims for anterior cruciate ligament right knee and left knee remain denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection is not granted for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), hypertension, or unspecified visual disorder.