Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including a right wrist disability, left wrist disability, neck disability, and right ankle disability. The decision also denied an earlier effective date for tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his heart condition, prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hip disability and heart disability due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the impact of medications prescribed for service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's bilateral hip and heart disabilities are being reviewed again with consideration of any use of prednisone.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to military service, and the character of his discharge from his second period of service is not a bar to VA benefits.,Service connection for heart disease, hypertension, kidney disease, sleep apnea, bilateral knee disability, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and scars are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder due to insufficient evidence. The case is returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD has been dismissed as the December 2018 Board decision granted a 30 percent rating, and no higher. The issue of initial rating for Coronary Artery Disease is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including ischemic heart disease, lumbosacral strain, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disability and diabetes mellitus type II, with secondary service connection to a heart disability. The claims are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for medical examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's coronary artery disease and its relation to service, specifically his exposure to burn pits. The case is now pending for a new examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his migraine headaches, jaw pain and facial spasms, left shoulder, forearm, and hand pain, cervical spine disability, and diplopia (double vision).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart conditions, including his diagnosed supraventricular arrhythmia and valvular heart disease, may be related to service due to aggravation. However, the nature of his heart murmur is unclear as it could be a congenital defect or disease. The case is being remanded for further clarification.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of various extremities, kidney condition, valvular heart disease, erectile dysfunction, cataracts, diabetes mellitus, GERD, stomach condition, asbestosis, ankle conditions, back disability, knee conditions, arthritis, right hip condition, and left hip condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents, as there is insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure during his active duty from December 1965 to October 1969. The AOJ must make further efforts to obtain all relevant records and determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, bilateral hernia residuals, and heart condition due to insufficient development regarding his Reserve service.

The Board found clear and unmistakable error in the original grant of service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD) and atrial fibrillation, as there is no competent evidence indicating that the Veteran had a diagnosis of IHD. Therefore, service connection on a presumptive basis was not available.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease was rated at 100% from November 1, 2011 to February 1, 2012. From January 13, 2015 to November 5, 2015, and from March 1, 2016 to January 18, 2018, the Veteran's coronary artery disease was rated at 60%. The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disorder was rated at 30% prior to August 9, 2010. From August 9, 2010, the Veteran's GERD was rated at 40%. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 20% prior to July 13, 2010 and at 40% thereafter. The Veteran's right humerus condition, residuals of a right shoulder dislocation with degenerative arthritis (DA), and bilateral knee conditions were all rated at 20%. SMC based on aid and attendance or housebound status was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and posttraumatic stress disorder rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from August 31, 2018, to January 13, 2020. The Board granted a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a heart disability, including as secondary to exposure to herbicide agents, is granted due to his diagnosed coronary artery disease and presumed exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has vacated the portion of its June 2023 decision that denied reopening claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension. The claims are now reopened, but the case is remanded to determine if there is a nexus between the Veteran's conditions and his service-connected anxiety disorder or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the June 2014 proposed reduction of his coronary artery disease rating from 60 percent to 10 percent is not a final agency action, and he prematurely appealed it.