Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence to decide the claims, and a VA examination is needed to address the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for gout including gouty arthritis, right knee disability, left wrist disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral flatfoot disability, and heart disability. The Board found that there is no medical evidence or opinion linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded his service connection claims due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is required to provide updated medical records from VA and private providers.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for coronary artery disease prior to January 22, 2020 was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher 60 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7005.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The initial rating for coronary artery disease with angina remains at 30 percent, and the claims for right and left iliotibial band syndrome are remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents.,The Veteran's CAD is granted an increased rating to 100 percent, with the condition being rated based on its severity and not separate anatomical segments.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition and diabetes mellitus II due to herbicide agent exposure are being remanded as the dates of exposure need further clarification.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for ischemic heart disease and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records since October 2016 and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for multinodular goiter and coronary artery disease due to potential exposure to radioactive materials during service. The AOJ must determine if the Veteran was exposed to radiation, and a VA examination is needed to assess whether his conditions are related to his service.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim has been denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent has already been granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was not established due to lack of evidence showing a current disability within one year after service.

The Veteran's claim for a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to April 30, 2015 has been dismissed as moot because he is already receiving Special Monthly Compensation based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from June 30, 2011 to June 28, 2013 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents, including lung disability, chest pains, breathing problems, and heart disability. The case remains a legacy appeal as no SOC has been issued yet.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular accident, peripheral vascular disease, COPD, and severe obstructive sleep apnea, all of which are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during the Veteran's service in Thailand. The secondary service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is also granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for type 2 diabetes mellitus, heart disability, kidney disease, and bilateral eye disability due to inadequate VA opinions regarding their etiology. The claims are inextricably intertwined with the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease and cardiomyopathy was granted with an effective date of April 5, 2017. This decision is based on the liberalizing law that added ischemic heart disease as a presumptive condition due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) and asbestos. The Board concluded that the Veteran did not have coronary artery disease during service or within one year after separation, and thus could not establish service connection.

The Veteran's cardiological disability, including ischemic heart disease and supraventricular tachycardia, is unclear. The Board finds a need for further examination to determine if the condition is related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty service, and the condition is presumed to be related to in-service exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of his appeal.