Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 40 percent rating for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction is granted, effective September 18, 2017.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU (Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability) is granted, effective October 19, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU. The claim for SMC at the A&A level is remanded due to lack of an SOC.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability and heart disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of a skin disability. The heart, bilateral hearing loss, left leg, and left ankle disabilities are all remanded for further review.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a heart disability due to incomplete development and lack of medical opinions addressing the etiology of his diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and PTSD is denied. The Board has found substantial compliance with previous remands but has determined that the issues of service connection for gastrointestinal disability, arthritis (secondary to service-connected conditions), and TDIU are still pending.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for ischemic heart disease (IHD) prior to July 23, 2015 and from July 23, 2015 to April 24, 2019 was denied.,The Veteran's claims for TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to July 23, 2015 and on a schedular basis from July 23, 2015 to September 26, 2016 were also denied.,An effective date earlier than September 26, 2016 for the award of Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension and TDIU prior to August 12, 2013 due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection and aggravation. The Veteran's hypertension is presumed related to herbicide exposure, but a new opinion is needed on whether it was aggravated by ischemic heart disease.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for valvular heart disease and seizure disorder due to insufficient consideration of in-service symptoms and lack of adequate VA medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's coronary artery disease and its onset prior to August 31, 2010. The appellant is seeking an effective date for service connection of CAD.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's valvular heart disease and hypertension are related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for ischemic heart disease, including a lack of definitive proof of an old myocardial infarction. The Veteran's private and VA records are requested to provide more information.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability, left shoulder disability, and lung disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the claim for revision of a March 2012 rating decision on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) because there was no evidence showing that CAD warranted a 100% rating prior to December 1, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disability, including coronary artery disease (CAD), is at least as likely as not related to service. Similarly, his bilateral hearing loss is also found to be related to service. The Board granted both claims based on direct service connection.

Service connection for prostate cancer is granted under the PACT Act of 2022.,Service connection for PTSD and persistent depressive disorder is granted. The Board found that these conditions are related to service, including in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the case for several issues including earlier effective dates and increased disability ratings for heart conditions, as well as a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The Veteran's private treatment records are missing and need to be obtained.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and ischemic heart disease are granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in Thailand and Guam, as provided by the PACT Act.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including breathing disorder, back disorder, headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee disorder, heart disorder, painful joints, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, obesity, vision disorder, intestinal disorder, and sleep apnea. The Board also notes that no presumptive service connection is being considered for any of the conditions.