Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the service member's death was caused by his in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The appellant must provide updated VA and private treatment records, and a new opinion is needed from a VA clinician.

The Board has decided that a heart condition, claimed as secondary to service-connected vasovagal syncope, should be remanded for further development and examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a hiatal hernia and remanded the issue of service connection for a heart condition, including stroke, as secondary to service-connected peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and medications for PUD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cardiac disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, heart disability, and reactive airway disease were denied as the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his active military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for arthritis, asbestosis, and heart condition have been withdrawn. The appeal for diabetes mellitus is remanded due to the need for further development regarding herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including a heart disability, lung cancer, lumbar spine disability, hypertension, liver disability, peripheral neuropathy, allergic rhinitis, mediastinal lymphadenopathy, gastrointestinal disability, blood forming organ disorder, reticuloendothelial disability, agranulocytosis, and nasal disability. The claims are remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding that the Veteran's condition is related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The diagnosis of coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction was established through VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety with depression has been reopened and granted. The claims for service connection for a left eye disorder, peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower extremity, bilateral leg orthopedic disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, back disorder, bilateral foot disorder, arthritis of the shoulders, arthritis of the neck, sinus disorder, right eye disorder (glaucoma and cataract), erectile dysfunction, and heart disorder have been denied.

The Board has dismissed all appeals related to service connection for various conditions as the Veteran requested withdrawal of these appeals prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claims for Guillain-Barre syndrome, seizures disorder condition, and heart condition (including hypertension) is granted.,Service connection for dysesthesia, claimed as Guillain-Barre syndrome, including any residuals thereof, is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 30, 2008, for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted. The claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and left upper extremity vascular disease are remanded due to lack of evidence supporting their onset during service or otherwise related to service. Other claims remain denied.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if CAD is a separate and distinct disability from hypertension and stroke, and whether its symptoms can be distinguished from those of hypertension and stroke.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart disability and seizure disorder due to insufficient evidence in previous opinions. Additional medical opinions are needed regarding the Veteran's participation in toxic exposure risk activities during military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disorder, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran's current heart condition began during or is otherwise related to active service. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, heart disability, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and psychiatric disability due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and IHD have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since April 14, 2003. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis effective from that date.

The Veteran's metastatic melanoma and ischemic heart disease (CAD with stent placement) have been granted service connection based on direct evidence of their existence during his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to active duty and noting conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has remanded multiple service connection claims due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions, as well as the need to obtain outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's disabilities include musculoskeletal issues, hearing loss, psychiatric disorders, sleep apnea, lung conditions, headaches, heart condition, diabetes mellitus, kidney conditions, eye conditions, peripheral neuropathies, and erectile dysfunction.