Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining an adequate VA examination, which was not provided prior to the February 2023 rating decision on appeal. The Veteran's service connection claim for a heart disability to include ischemic heart disease is now pending.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he died during their pendency.

The Board has denied service connection for a pulmonary disability. The claims of service connection for heart, prostate, unstable angina, and carotid artery stenosis disabilities are remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities. The appeal is remanded for further consideration of issues related to increased ratings and service connection.

The Veteran's heart disability, including myocardial infarctions and coronary artery disease, is rated at 100 percent for convalescent periods from June 9, 2014 through September 30, 2014, and October 16, 2017 through January 31, 2018. The Veteran's heart disability was not found to meet the criteria for a higher rating during other specified periods.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected renal cell carcinoma. The initial rating for right renal cell carcinoma and associated scarring are remanded, as well as the issue of service connection for a heart disorder related to renal cell carcinoma.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of diabetes mellitus type II, heart disease, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy as the Veteran did not respond to a clarification request.

The Board has decided to remand four issues related to service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (DM), a heart disability, and bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy due to incomplete examination reports that did not address the Veteran's exposure to toxic environments during his deployments in Southwest Asia.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for emphysema, COPD, ischemic heart disease with congestive heart failure, and meningioma due to insufficient medical opinions regarding exposure to hazardous chemicals and materials during service.

The appeals for service connection of diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and prostate cancer have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he is not in need of regular aid and assistance.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability claim was denied as there is no competent evidence of a current diagnosis.,Service connection for asthma was granted based on the persuasive opinion linking it to service.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if the Appellant's discharge was upgraded from general under honorable conditions after May 1978, as he claims. The decision also notes that service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted but with a condition regarding the character of his discharge.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and insufficient medical opinion to establish a nexus between any such event and his current disability.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension as there was no evidence of herbicide agent exposure during service. The Veteran's service records did not show he served within 12 nautical miles offshore of Vietnam or Guam, and the VA classified special operations logs provided insufficient evidence to establish exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected parasomnia contributed to his development of myocardial infarction, which ultimately led to his death. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received for the Veteran's claims of service connection for ischemic heart disease, hypothyroidism disability, hypoparathyroidism disability, and thyroid cancer. The claims are being remanded to allow for a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to herbicide agent exposure during service.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, right ear hearing loss, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability are granted. The claims for hypertension and coronary artery disease are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and recurrent bilateral leg ulcerations, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service or exposure to environmental hazards during the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and hypertensive heart disease, have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation throughout the appeal period.