Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease has been granted, as new and material evidence was received.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder has also been granted, with the condition being related to service.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for coronary artery disease. The Board has dismissed this issue due to the withdrawal. The erectile dysfunction claim is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's cause of death is remanded for a VA opinion to determine the cause(s) and whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's gastric carcinoma, and/or any other determined cause of death, is directly related to service, including herbicide exposure. The DIC claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with the cause of death claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma and a heart disability, to include ischemic heart disease (IHD), due to incomplete medical opinions regarding these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and a heart disability (including CAD with CABG) due to their association with the Veteran's service-connected asbestosis. The VA will provide new examinations to determine if these conditions are related to or aggravated by the service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding exposure to insecticides such as DDT and its potential impact on the Veteran's heart conditions.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that COPD was not caused by herbicide exposure and IHD and Diabetes Mellitus, Type II did not contribute to his death. The Board found no evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for clarification on whether dementia is a symptom or separate diagnosis related to PTSD and its impact on the need for regular aid and attendance. The Veteran's SMC rate may be affected by this determination.

The Board denied service connection for Alzheimer's disease, attributing it to the Veteran's active military service and exposure to asbestos and malathion pesticide. The Board found no evidence of a link between these factors and the condition.,Service connection was also denied for CAD, which the Board determined was not related to the Veteran's active military service or his exposure to asbestos and malathion pesticide.

The Veteran's cervical spine DDD and CAD were denied increased ratings.,Hypertension, hemorrhoids, and right foot fracture with gout were also denied increased ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to issues with obtaining necessary medical opinions and addressing potential theories of entitlement.

The Veteran's hypertension, hypertensive heart disease, edema, and headache disorder are granted service connection due to herbicide exposure under the PACT Act. The respiratory disorder and hepatitis B claims remain pending as they do not meet the presumptive criteria.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension, both of which are claimed to be due to exposure to herbicides during service. The Veteran passed away before a decision could be made.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations were not conducted as directed and thus the issues must be remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions including kidney disability, hypertension, heart disability (cardiomyopathy), skin disability (swollen lymph nodes), and recurrent headache disability. The Veteran is also seeking TDIU based on these disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), coronary artery disease, ischemic heart disease, and arterial hypertension as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or a nexus between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the merits is dismissed due to withdrawal of the bladder arteriovenous malformation claim. The claims for lung nodules, OSA, and other conditions are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his cause of death, finding insufficient evidence to establish full-body exposure to mustard gas during service and no medical link between the Veteran's causes of death and mustard gas exposure.