Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2024

The Veteran's heart disability, including stable angina with heart block cardiomyopathy and cardiac pacemaker, was granted as secondary to hypertension. The effective date for this service connection is set at April 10, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and ratings for various conditions, including sleep apnea, valvular heart disease, left knee quadriceps tendonitis, hiatal hernia with GERD, right upper extremity acquired psychogenic pain disorder, and SMC based on Aid and Attendance/housebound criteria. The AOJ is required to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations and obtain medical opinions regarding these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, heart condition, and peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide agent exposure. The RO is instructed to obtain an opinion from an environmental toxicologist regarding the Veteran's claimed exposures.

The Board denied service connection for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Ischemic Heart Disease, finding no evidence of herbicide agent exposure during the Veteran's service in Korea. The chronic disease presumption was not applicable due to lack of showing of chronicity or continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to an administrative error, as the same issues were already adjudicated under a different docket number. The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation and TDIU have been addressed in previous decisions.

The Veteran's appeals to reduce the disability ratings for lumbar degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome, supraventricular arrhythmia (heart condition), and right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve were dismissed because the proposed reductions had not been finalized in a final VA decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the cause of death and contributory causes. The Veteran's cause of death is attributed to interstitial lung disease, which may be related to asbestos exposure, but other conditions like chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, peripheral arterial occlusive disease, hypothyroidism, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension are also considered.

The Board and the Court have both denied the appellant's request for an earlier effective date of May 5, 1994, for service connection of coronary artery disease (CAD) for accrued benefits purposes. The decision is dismissed as a free-standing claim cannot be raised after finality.

The Board has remanded several claims, including earlier effective dates and increased ratings for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, left and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, ischemic heart disease, unspecified depressive disorder, TDIU, and DEA benefits. The Veteran's service records indicate possible exposure to herbicides in Thailand, which could support a presumption of exposure.

The Board dismissed the appeals for effective dates prior to August 10, 2022 for service connection of hypertension, hypertensive heart disease with ventricular heart disease (heart disability), and chronic kidney disease. The appeal was also dismissed regarding entitlement to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits and TDIU.

The Veteran's cardiovascular disabilities, including atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease, are being remanded for further examination to determine their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical opinions and the need for additional evidence regarding the Veteran's heart disabilities, including whether they are related to service or any prescribed medications.

The Board has remanded the claims for neurological disorder, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, heart condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's service connection claims are being remanded for further development including VA examinations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) on a direct basis, finding that his participation in toxic exposure related activities while on active duty caused or aggravated his CAD. The decision is based on medical evidence and does not involve any presumption of service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and a compensable evaluation for coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support these claims based on the pre-amended rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the appellant's claims for hypertension, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, type II, heart disability, and arteriosclerosis obliterans due to unavailability of service treatment records and personnel records. The VA is required to schedule the appellant for appropriate examinations to determine the probable nature, date(s) of initial onset, and etiology/etiologies of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's heart condition, including ischemic heart disease (IHD), is granted service connection due to herbicide exposure during his service in Thailand under the PACT Act.

The Board has remanded the claims for earlier effective dates due to conflicting evidence regarding the Veteran's service exposure and the need to verify the vessel's position on or near April 5, 1969. The appeal is based on presumptive exposure under the PACT Act.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the prior Board remand directives and has therefore remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and type II diabetes mellitus are granted as they are presumed to be related to his in-service herbicide exposure.