Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, heart disorder, respiratory disorder, and residuals of a stroke as secondary to the Veteran's hypertension. The claims were not granted due to lack of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for scar, inguinal hernia and residuals of fractured jaw are remanded. The heart disability claim is also remanded as it involves participation in a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA).

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for coronary artery disease, supraventricular arrythmia, status-post CABG was denied. Separate noncompensable evaluations were assigned for the Veteran's sternum scars and right leg scar, both of which are now rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sleep apnea and a heart condition as secondary to prescribed medication for service-connected disability (PTSD and TBI) have been denied. The Board found that the current conditions are not related to service or service-connected disabilities.,There is no evidence of any causal relationship between the Veteran’s sleep apnea and his military service, with the opinion stating it did not have its onset during or within a year of service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and ischemic heart disease, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his military service at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. The presumption of service connection based on such exposure is applied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from December 19, 2017, to November 14, 2018. The Board granted a TDIU for this period.

The Board has remanded the cases due to outstanding private treatment records from Dr. W.H.B.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's service and his current heart condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of his exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for coronary artery disease and remanded the issue due to new evidence received since the last final denial.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for headaches, a heart condition (including hypertension), a bilateral condition, a left ankle disability, and a right ankle disability due to incomplete records from the VA Medical Center in Long Beach, California prior to 1997.

The Board has granted service connection for congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease with ventricular arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, and cardiomyopathy as secondary to medications used to treat his service-connected conditions (chronic urticaria and multiple joints). The evidence is approximately balanced on whether the Veteran's current heart disabilities are proximately due to or the result of these medications.

The Board has granted service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The Veteran's secondary claims for pneumonia, coronary artery disease, end stage renal disease, residuals of a bone marrow transplant, immune deficiency disorder, and chronic infections are remanded as the VA is required to obtain medical opinions regarding their relationship to his service-connected non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as his service-connected disabilities, including a 100% rating for heart disease, render him unable to work. The appeal on the matter must be dismissed.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and kidney disability were not incurred in service or related to any in-service injury.,The cause of the Veteran's death was attributed to his coronary artery disease.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the prior Board decision's remand directives and has ordered further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to determine the nature and cause of the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, heart conditions, and peripheral artery disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development regarding the Veteran's ability to work due to his service-connected disabilities, particularly ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's CAD is rated at 100% effective from November 18, 2019. His acquired psychiatric disorder remains at a 70% rating.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for left ankle, right ankle, heart, and neck disabilities due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset and persistence of his symptoms are considered.

The Board denied service connection for heart disease and hypertension, finding no evidence of such conditions in service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's current conditions were not related to his military service.