Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to potential errors in previous decisions regarding service connection. The VA is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions and their relationship to service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development of his military exposure and treatment records. The issues include hypertension, coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, kidney disease, and bilateral peripheral vascular disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including right ear hearing loss, hypertension, allergies, heart disability, liver disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include stress/emotional disorder, are remanded due to incomplete information regarding his military service. The AOJ is instructed to obtain clarification of the specific dates and character of the appellant's service, including his Military Master Pay Account (MMPA) with the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS).

The Veteran's mesothelioma rating is denied from December 9, 2014 to December 17, 2015. The heart disorder claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records to clarify the nature and severity of his service-connected conditions during the period on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for meningitis, a heart disability to include as secondary to meningitis, and peripheral arterial disease of the bilateral lower extremities to include as secondary to meningitis due to lack of current diagnoses and insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's hypertension, kidney cancer, heart disorder (coronary atherosclerosis, heart attack, coronary artery disease), peripheral artery disease, acquired psychiatric disorder (chemo brain), retinopathy, penile condition, and lung disorder have been granted service connection. The effective date for these grants is October 13, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease, Parkinson's disease, and diabetes mellitus, type 2 have been granted as service connection is established based on presumptive exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's service connection for valvular heart disease was severed due to the incorrect diagnosis of ischemic heart disease. Service connection for right and left hip disabilities were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for service connection for heart disease, hypertension, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in a need for regular aid and attendance of another person, which has been granted.

Effective dates of August 31, 2010, April 29, 2009, and April 29, 2009 have been granted for service connection for status post myocardial infarction with coronary artery disease and coronary artery disease status post angioplasty, diabetes mellitus, type II, left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (external popliteal nerve), and left and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy (radial nerve).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (coronary heart disease, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss) prevent him from securing and following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide agent exposure and insufficient credible evidence linking his current conditions to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and heart disease (congestive heart failure) as secondary to his service-connected hypertension. The hypertension is presumed due to Agent Orange exposure, while the heart condition is linked to the hypertension.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, heart disorder, gastrointestinal disorder (GERD), and erectile dysfunction. The case will be remanded to allow for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease has been manifested by workload levels between 5 and 7 METs with subjective complaints of fatigue and dyspnea on exertion, but no evidence of congestive heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction. The Board finds that a higher initial rating is not warranted at any time from the date of service connection.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for ischemic heart disease, including coronary artery disease, due to exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's current condition is related to his documented high cholesterol in service and mild inferior wall ischemia diagnosed in 2003.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a pulmonary condition, hypogonadism, and trench foot has been granted. The rating assigned is noncompensable in all cases.

The Veteran's diabetes is rated at 20 percent, and the issues of service connection for prostate disorder, liver disorder, lung disorder, osteoarthrosis, and heart disorder are all denied. The Veteran has been granted a separate rating for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.