Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for his heart condition (claimed as exacerbation of heart murmur and atrial fibrillation) is being remanded due to a failure to provide notice of the right to a hearing before VA.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's Ischemic Heart Disease and dismissed the claim of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) as moot.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a mental health disability and coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure were granted in the January 17, 2023 rating decision. The appellant is eligible to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in this decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date prior to July 20, 2023, for the grant of service connection for his heart disability. The claim was filed on July 20, 2023, and there were no unadjudicated claims or documents indicating intent to file a claim for benefits related to a heart disability before that date.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease was initially granted based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents while in South Korea. However, the Board found this grant was erroneous due to a lack of evidence of exposure during the presumptive period and remanded for further investigation into direct exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension.

The Board has determined that new medical opinions are required for the Veteran's hypertension, GERD, fatigue (claimed as chronic fatigue syndrome), joint pain (claimed as fibromyalgia), and heart disorder claims due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a heart condition, bilateral eye conditions (including as secondary to a service-connected disability), and a neck condition (also including as secondary to a service-connected disability) due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous instructions. The Veteran's Bell's palsy, coronary artery disease, and hypertension are being reviewed for secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in accordance with previous remand directives are inadequate and requires further examination to determine service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an extraschedular TDIU prior to May 13, 2021, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his heart condition to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted under the PACT Act. The respiratory condition, bilateral foot pes planus, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure in Guam.

The appeal of the claim for hypertension is dismissed. The claims for diabetes mellitus, Type 2 (DM II), prostate cancer, and coronary artery disease are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate notice and duty to assist errors. The Veteran is required to provide information about any private treatment records, which will be sought by VA.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) secondary to myocardial infarction with valvular heart disease, as there is an inadequate medical opinion and additional opinions are needed.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and atherosclerosis of the coronary artery with stable angina pectoris are granted as secondary to herbicide exposure. Hypertension is also granted under the PACT Act.,Hypothyroidism and irritable bowel syndrome were not granted due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and reduction of his evaluation for chorioretinal scars with other retinal detachments have been dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn their appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his fatal cardiomyopathy with arrhythmia was likely due to coronary artery disease and hypertension, which are presumptively service connected given his Agent Orange exposure in Guam and Thailand.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for various conditions and remanded them for further action.