Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions and exposure. The Veteran is requested to provide more information about his exposures, and a VA examination will be conducted to determine if his conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease was not shown to meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to October 19, 2016. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's left knee strain is granted as secondary to his service-connected right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and left ankle strain. The claims for diabetes mellitus type II, heart condition, and acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD are remanded.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal because it is a duplicate of an earlier AMA appeal seeking the same benefits, and thus violates the prohibition of concurrent AMA elections.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to May 24, 2022, for a 60 percent disability evaluation for coronary artery disease is denied. The effective date will be the latest of the date entitlement arose, the earliest date as of which it is factually ascertainable that an increase in disability occurred if a claim is received within one year from such date, or the date of receipt of the claim.

The Veteran's eligibility for PCAFC benefits is being remanded due to unclear reasons and lack of adequate notice. The Board will request medical opinions from the CEAT regarding personal care needs, supervision or protection requirements, and need for regular or extensive instruction or supervision.

The Veteran's increased stipend in the PCAFC is granted due to his need for personal care services each time he completes at least three ADLs and is fully dependent on a caregiver, based on his service-connected conditions and documented medical problems.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, residuals of adrenal cancer, and coronary artery disease with myopathy status post coronary artery bypass graft. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service exposure to environmental hazards that included jet fuel, Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF), and Trichlorofluoromethane.

The Veteran's claim for coronary artery disease (claimed as heart attack) was granted with an effective date of August 4, 2016.,The Veteran's claim for voiding dysfunction, residuals of a stroke (cerebrovascular accident (CVA)) and right lower extremity muscle weakness, residual of a stroke (cerebrovascular accident (CVA)) were both granted with an effective date of December 29, 2022.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic kidney disease, diabetic peripheral neuropathy with carpal tunnel syndrome in the right upper extremity, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the left lower and right lower extremity, diabetic peripheral neuropathy with carpal tunnel syndrome in the left upper extremity, and coronary artery disease (CAD), have rendered him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease, linked to herbicide exposure (Agent Orange), is granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for ischemic heart disease, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and surgical scars on the chest as the appellant withdrew her appeal.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), and the cause of the Veteran's death as they were not shown to be related to military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to concerns about informed consent and potential additional disabilities resulting from VA medical care.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted with a 10% rating. The VA has ordered remand for additional evaluations of his coronary artery disease, right knee, and right shoulder conditions due to the possibility of worsening during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA medical opinions regarding whether the appellant's heart disabilities are related to his service-connected hypertension. The appellant is seeking service connection for these conditions, with aggravation as the theory.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his death during the appeal process. The case is now being reviewed with consideration of the appellant's eligibility for accrued benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding the nature and circumstances of onset of the Veteran's heart disabilities, including mitral valve regurgitation, mitral valve stenosis, left atrial dilation, and/or heart murmur.

The Board has dismissed the issues of service connection for treatment purposes only for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, a sinus condition, and a heart condition due to the death of the Servicemember. The issue regarding whether the character of discharge is a bar to VA benefits has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, heart disorder, and GERD due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's reports of onset and symptoms in the previous VA opinion.