Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability. The remaining issues of service connection for cervical, left knee, right knee, and heart conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart, neurological, muscle and joint, and sleep disorders due to exposure in Southwest Asia. The Veteran is seeking reopening of his previously denied claim for a heart disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection and rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) has been granted due to exposure to herbicides during his service in Thailand. The effective date is set at the date of receipt of the claim, February 11, 2010. For bilateral hearing loss and left foot hallux valgus, the claims are denied as there is no earlier effective date found.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's death and accrued benefits, including service connection for prostate cancer and coronary artery disease. The Appellant is also seeking burial benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for COPD and heart condition due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's COPD is being examined again by a pulmonologist, while his heart condition worsening claim requires an opinion from a cardiologist.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction and prostate cancer are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,An effective date earlier than August 31, 2010, for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease has been denied.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during his military service. The Board denied the claim for DIC benefits based on the cause of death.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to ischemic heart disease, which is presumed to be related to exposure to tactical herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam. The claim for accrued benefits was denied as there was no valid pending claim at the time of the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the cases of gastroesophageal reflux disease and a heart disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship with service-connected bipolar disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing an opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease caused or aggravated his obesity.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives regarding the Veteran's service dates. The claim for service connection for a heart disability will be reconsidered based on the correct dates of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA.

The Board is remanding several claims due to incomplete development and the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current heart conditions, including CAD (congestive heart failure), and his active service at Camp LeJeune. The issues of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, hiatal hernia, coronary artery bypass, arteriosclerotic heart disease, gout, GERD, high blood pressure, and diabetes mellitus type II are also remanded as they rely on the outcome of the congestive heart failure claim.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) as due to herbicide exposure, finding reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran's claimed exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to ischemic heart disease, coronary artery disease, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and lung cancer caused by exposure to herbicide agents during service in Thailand. The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is dismissed as moot since service connection has been granted. Service-connected burial benefits are also granted.

The Board has remanded several claims for service connection, including PTSD, GERD, arthritis degenerative, and a heart disability. The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for coronary artery bypass surgery is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and COPD, as secondary to in-service asbestos exposure and burn pit exposure. The AOJ is instructed to verify any potential exposure during service, obtain updated VA treatment records, and provide a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the claimed conditions.

The Board has granted reopening of the claims for entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder condition, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and heart condition (claimed as sinus bradycardia). The cases are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his lower back disability prior to March 27, 2012 and from March 27, 2012. The Veteran's service connection claims for bone weakness and heart weakness are also being remanded. Additionally, the TDIU claim is being remanded as well.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus type II and ischemic heart disease (IHD) due to alleged in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran's reported exposure to herbicide agents while taking TDY flights to Vietnam and Thailand, as well as participating in Arclight II.