Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes and ischemic heart disease due to a lack of consideration of certain evidence, including ship logs from the USS Canisteo. A VA opinion is needed regarding the combined effect of toxic exposure during service on these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension and multiple forms of neuropathy associated with CAD, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for lung cancer, prostate cancer, coronary artery disease (CAD), and hypertension on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure in Thailand. The effective dates are not specified as the claims were filed prior to August 10, 2022.

The Veteran is granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from December 22, 2022, through February 12, 2023, due to his service-connected heart disorder.

The Board denied service connection for heart palpitations as the evidence did not show it was incurred during active duty, training or in-service exposure. The Veteran's hyperthyroid heart disease is not considered a covered disease and therefore cannot be granted on that basis.

The Board has vacated the May 16, 2022 decision and remanded the service connection issues for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, heart disability, and respiratory disability. The claims are now being addressed based on new evidence.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service connection claims for hepatocellular carcinoma, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, diabetic nephropathy, obstructive sleep apnea, iron deficiency anemia, and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to a failure to verify the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents while stationed in Korea.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD, a heart condition, and residuals of a nose fracture. The Veteran's claim for headaches secondary to service-connected sinusitis is remanded.,Service connection cannot be granted as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD that is related to active service.

The Veteran's TDIU is based on a single disability (vertigo) and his ischemic heart disease, which was rated at 60 percent disabling prior to December 27, 2022. Therefore, the criteria for SMC housebound benefits are met and granted effective December 29, 2014.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of three issues related to service connection for heart conditions, as they were concurrent elections and not properly docketed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral nuclear cataracts, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and heart disability due to potential errors in satisfying a regulatory or statutory duty.

The Veteran's claims for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to December 3, 2019 and basic eligibility to DEA based on permanent and total disability status prior to December 3, 2019 are being remanded due to the AOJ's failure to refer these matters to the VA Director of Compensation and Pension for a determination.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death due to coronary artery disease, finding that there was no evidence showing a service-connected disability caused or contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for CAD, diabetes, IBS, and a genitourinary disability are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The AOJ is required to obtain VA opinions regarding herbicide exposure and its relation to these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from December 19, 2019 to May 16, 2020. A TDIU rating has been granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of pericarditis and heart disease, PTSD, and post-surgical scars. The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran filed disability claims prior to July 17, 2022.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Hepatitis C, Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), and Hypertension, as well as secondary service connection for these conditions due to non-service connected Hepatitis C. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD) effective April 3, 2013. The Veteran's original claim was received in December 1996, but the earliest diagnosis of IHD occurred on April 3, 2013.

The Veteran's entitlement to a 30 percent rating for service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) prior to June 6, 2019 is granted. The appeal for a higher rating between June 6, 2019 and August 30, 2019 is denied.

The Board has found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in Thailand and granted service connection for ischemic heart disease. The issue of secondary service connection for scars status post heart surgery as related to ischemic heart disease is remanded due to a lack of medical examination. The issue of direct service connection for sleep apnea, which may be related to the Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease and exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand, is also remanded.