Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to July 25, 2016.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease, finding no causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of this condition and there is no evidence of its onset during his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the service connection claims related to left leg disorder, heart disorder, colon disorder, and bilateral groin disorder (secondary to a heart disorder). The Board dismissed these issues as a result.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to issues with obtaining and reviewing medical records, as well as needing a VA examination. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder to include aortic valvular heart disease, finding no clinical evidence of a current disability and concluding that the most probative evidence does not support a causal nexus between his claimed condition and active service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp LeJeune.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's myocardial infarction occurred during Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) or Inactive Duty for Training (INACDUTRA), and to obtain any outstanding medical records related to his heart condition.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective November 4, 2016, due to the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease with coronary artery graft was granted a 60 percent disability rating from November 17, 2020, but the appeal for higher ratings remains on hold.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected aortic aneurysm was denied. The current evaluation of 10 percent is considered the highest schedular rating allowed by law.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new theories of entitlement and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's obesity, caused by his service-connected right knee and hip disabilities, may be a factor in causing his acid reflux, hypertension, and heart disabilities. His acquired psychiatric disability is also considered as a potential cause or aggravation.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for respiratory, heart, and hypertension disabilities as secondary to service-connected conditions. The effective date for the PTSD rating remains denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's heart disability, specifically whether it is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back disability and remanded the issue of secondary service connection for a heart condition. The case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient opinions regarding whether hypertension and hypertensive heart disease are proximately due or aggravated by service-connected supraventricular arrythmia. The VA needs to obtain an addendum opinion from a different examiner.

Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus, type II (DM), a heart disorder (IHD, CHF, and CAD), right leg ulcers, left leg ulcers, bilateral hearing loss, and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity.,Service connection is denied for a left ankle disorder, a right ankle disorder, and a left hand disorder.

The Veteran's atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease/coronary artery disease was granted a 30 percent disability evaluation prior to October 17, 2022. A 60 percent rating was assigned from October 17, 2022 onwards. The Board also granted the claim for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) since August 11, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for CAD, diabetes mellitus, left eye macular degeneration, right eye macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy are granted due to the PACT Act presumption of herbicide exposure.,The Veteran has a current diagnosis of each condition and was exposed to herbicides during his service on Guam.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and prostate cancer residuals are granted as presumptively related to herbicide agent exposure under the PACT Act.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is granted as secondary to now-service connected diabetes mellitus.