Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence addressing the severity of the Veteran's hypertensive heart disease associated with hypertension from July 29, 1993 to April 6, 2009. The Veteran needs a retrospective medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) is remanded due to the inadequacy of the October 2019 VA examination. The Board requires clarification on the Veteran's METs level solely due to CAD.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is granted a 100% disability rating from March 4, 2015 to December 14, 2022. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is denied as not meeting the criteria for a higher than 30% disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and thus grants his claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease is denied as there were no communications prior to December 8, 2009 that could be construed as a formal or informal claim.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for ischemic heart disease and erectile dysfunction have been denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of increased ratings for left and right lower extremity tremors, as well as separate ratings for bilateral radiculopathy.,The Veteran's service-connected conditions include ischemic heart disease, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral lower extremity tremors.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure, but the issues of service connection for unspecified skin condition and residuals of a venereal disease in service are remanded as they are intertwined with the herbicide exposure issue.

Service connection for Ischemic Heart Disease, Hypertension, and Diabetes Mellitus type II is granted due to the PACT Act presumption of herbicide exposure. Service connection for Bilateral Peripheral Neuropathy is REMANDED.

The Veteran's amputation, left foot, is rated at 60 percent from October 18, 1972. The rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) remains at 60 percent after April 29, 2020. Effective May 2, 2023, the Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits are granted with effective dates of October 31, 1997.

The Veteran's death was due to VA's failure to properly treat his heart disease, resulting in a cardiac arrest during an ICD implantation procedure. The Board granted DIC benefits under the 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in compliance with previous instructions and for obtaining additional medical records. The Veteran's heart condition is being reviewed again, including a new opinion on whether it was caused by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to January 27, 2011 on an extraschedular basis due to insufficient evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities alone prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's valvular heart disease as secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease with congestive heart failure is rated at 100 percent from September 1, 2006 to April 20, 2007 and from August 1, 2007 to March 29, 2009.

The Board has denied service connection for rashes and remanded the issues of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, gout, acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and mood disorder, duodenal ulcer, gastrointestinal disorder, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, type 2 (DMII), and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings for various knee conditions and a lumbar spine disorder due to his request to withdraw these claims prior to the scheduled hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, increased rating for prostate cancer, and total disability based on individual unemployability.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions. The Veteran's lung disease (COPD) and heart disease (CAD) claims are being reviewed again.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease was granted with an effective date of February 12, 2016. The rating assigned is 30 percent prior to August 4, 2022, and increased to 60 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain additional medical opinions regarding service connection.