Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities required regular aid and attendance, leading to the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for aid and attendance.

The appeal regarding the timeliness of a substantive appeal filed on May 3, 2018 is denied. The Veteran's Form 9 was received more than sixty days after the SOC was issued in March 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a heart disability and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) due to potential secondary effects from herbicide exposure. The case will be reviewed with additional medical opinions regarding these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease, effective from October 1, 2022.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development and consideration, including obtaining private treatment records and providing an opinion regarding whether his pulmonary hypertension and sleep apnea are proximately due or aggravated by service-connected hypertension.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) and a heart condition. The claims are being remanded again due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated as 70 percent disabling prior to May 29, 2018. For the entire appeal period, an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is denied. The Veteran's CAD claim is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disorder, heart disorder, and diabetes mellitus. The issues include seeking service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he did not have a current disability. The claims for diabetes, coronary artery disease, and peripheral neuropathy were granted with effective dates prior to the date of receipt of his claims.,The Veteran's sleep disorder and headache disorder claims are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's heart condition and ankle conditions are remanded for further evaluation. Her right hip disability ratings remain under review.

The Veteran's CAD and hypertension are found to be related to his service-connected PTSD.,PTSD is not associated with the claimed conditions of tinnitus, migraine headaches, sleep disorder, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, diverticulitis, bilateral eye disability, low back disability, or bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease with unstable angina is rated at a 60 percent since April 12, 2016, and October 28, 2021. The rating was increased to 30 percent effective April 12, 2016.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinion is not definitive and requires further development to clarify the relationship between the Veteran's coronary artery disease and his cause of death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertensive heart disease, finding no current diagnosis and insufficient evidence of functional impairment to constitute a disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and pleural thickening are granted on an accrued basis due to presumed exposure to herbicides. The claim for COPD is remanded as the evidence does not establish its onset in service or a relationship to asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for renal cell carcinoma and lung disorder have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,Service connection for coronary artery disease is granted based on herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for several disabilities, including left foot and eye disabilities. The remaining claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for heart and skin cancer of the extremities have been dismissed. The Board has referred other issues to the RO.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, gastritis, and heart disability have been granted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations. The Veteran is required to attend a VA examination at a closer location and efforts should be made to contact him.