Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease (recharacterized to a heart disability) has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,Service connection for hypertension is granted based on the PACT Act presumption of exposure to herbicide agents during Vietnam service.,Service connection for chronic kidney disease secondary to diabetes mellitus is granted.,The Board finds that additional development is needed regarding whether service connection for hypertension and a heart disability are warranted on a facts-found basis.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities from March 4, 2022. The Veteran's cardiac disability is rated at 100% disabling during this period.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for coronary artery disease, status-post CABG, prior to January 1, 2018, was denied. After January 1, 2018, the Veteran received a 100% disability rating. The effective date of service connection for this condition is set at May 4, 2015.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, coronary artery disease with stable angina, and PTSD with depressed mood and sleep impairment. The appeal for an increased rating for OSA is remanded. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as moot because he is already receiving a 100% schedular evaluation for his ischemic heart disease. The SMC claim is granted effective from August 22, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of June 13, 2014, for the 60 percent rating assigned for coronary artery disease is granted. The effective date was based on a new claim filed by the Veteran shortly after his diagnosis.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and heart disorder due to lack of evidence showing the conditions began during or were related to service.,Specifically, the Veteran's current diagnoses were not linked to his military service.

The appeal is dismissed as the request for substitution was filed more than one year after the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as federal retirement records.

The Veteran's death was due to coronary artery disease, which is presumed to have been caused by exposure to herbicide agents in Korea. The Board found the evidence in equipoise regarding the Veteran's service near the DMZ and granted service connection for the cause of his death.

The appeal with respect to the issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is dismissed.,Entitlement to service connection for a lung disability is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for chronic open angle glaucoma and nuclear sclerotic cataracts is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability (claimed as skeletal arthritis) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral elbow disability (claimed as skeletal arthritis) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral wrist disability (claimed as skeletal arthritis) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hip disability (claimed as skeletal arthritis) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a spine disability (claimed as skeletal arthritis) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disability (claimed as skeletal arthritis) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for hypertension due to service or service-connected disease or injury is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a heart disability due to service or service-connected disease or injury is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction due to service or service-connected disease or injury is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy due to service or service-connected disease or injury is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to service or service-connected disease or injury is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for RBD is denied.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including kidney disability, heart disability, liver disability, hypertension, thyroid disability, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy, all related to exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's service in Vietnam was not confirmed, and there is no evidence of exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, a heart disability, kidney disease, and a bilateral eye disability due to inadequate VA opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to new theories of entitlement, inadequate medical opinion, and further development of the record.

The Veteran is unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including knee and back conditions.

The Board has remanded both the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and the claim for burial benefits due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, which is a significant factor in determining his heart disease and subsequent cerebrovascular accident.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability, bilateral shin splints, right knee and left knee disabilities, right hip disability, right shoulder disability, heart disorder (claimed as a heart murmur), and gastrointestinal disorder.,The Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations scheduled in 2022 and 2023 was noted. The Board found that the Veteran failed without good cause to comply with the remand instructions.

The Board has denied service connection for a heart disability and remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's hip, rhinitis, foot conditions, and hypertension are all being evaluated further.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to August 15, 2016 for PTSD and service connection for coronary artery disease were withdrawn. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected PTSD was granted.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for hypertension, a heart disability, bilateral foot peripheral neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to potential in-service events that could significantly impact these claims.