Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2024

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between the Veteran's active service and his cause of death. The Board also determined that the Veteran did not have any service-connected disabilities at the time of his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, a heart condition, and bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to the need for further development regarding potential exposure to environmental contaminants during her service at Fort McClellan.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, a VA examination, and information regarding asbestos exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for coronary artery disease and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection, including exposure to toxins. The case requires further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for COPD and heart disabilities due to inadequate opinions provided in December 2023. The VA examiner must address whether these conditions are related to service, including toxic exposure risk activities (TERAs), and if they are aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for prostate hypertrophy, heart disorder, sleep disorder, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus type II, chronic low back strain with degenerative changes, and chronic synovitis of both ankles. The AOJ is instructed to clarify whether the Appellant is the Veteran's surviving spouse and complete additional development as requested in previous remands.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to his failure to attend scheduled VA examinations. The examinations were not rescheduled as requested by the Veteran and his representative.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional verification of his exposure to herbicide agents during his period of active service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease (CAD) based on exposure to herbicides during the Vietnam era in Thailand. The conditions are presumed to have been incurred due to this exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's coronary artery disease is related to his active-duty service at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's heart disability, including his post-surgical coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), has been rated at 60 percent since September 14, 2015. The Board found that the evidence supports a finding of more than one episode of acute congestive heart failure in the past year or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 30 to 50 percent, warranting a 60 percent rating.

The Board denied an annual clothing allowance for topical medication in 2018 because the Veteran did not use prescribed medication for a skin condition due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted the petitions to reopen claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, but denied all other issues. The Veteran's conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and heart disease has been reopened, and both conditions are now granted. The Board found that the evidence is at least in balance regarding whether these conditions were related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional procedural and evidentiary development, including verifying the exact dates of the appellant's Active Duty Training (ACDUTRA) and Inactive Duty Training (INACDUTRA) periods in his Army National Guard service. The AOJ is also instructed to adjudicate the claims on the merits.

The Veteran's appeal of the rating assigned to his service-connected PTSD arose from his April 2011 claim to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD. The effective date for a 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted as of April 19, 2011.,The Veteran's appeal of entitlement to a TDIU was part and parcel of his appeal of the rating assigned to his service-connected PTSD. The effective date for a TDIU is granted as of April 19, 2011.,Service connection for COPD is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.,The Veteran's bibasilar atelectasis is rated at 60 percent and the appeal for an increased rating is remanded.,The cause of death (coronary artery disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is remanded as there are insufficient opinions regarding the relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder other than the service-connected IBS, kidney stones and renal insufficiency, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression, anxiety, PTSD, and sleep disorder), migraine headaches, heart disorder, bilateral knee disorder, hypertension, DVT, glaucoma, cholesterol, and fibromyalgia are all remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's service connection claims will be remanded to determine the etiology of his gastrointestinal disorders, kidney stones and renal insufficiency, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression, anxiety, PTSD, and sleep disorder), migraine headaches, heart disorder, bilateral knee disorder, hypertension, DVT, glaucoma, cholesterol, and fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of stroke are granted as secondary to his primary diagnosis, coronary artery disease. However, the initial rating for his heart disability remains at 60 percent.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, chronic kidney disease and renal dysfunction, and peripheral vascular disease. The decision also remanded the claim for male reproductive disorder.

The Veteran's heart conditions and diabetes mellitus, type II, are granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure during active duty.,Diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is also granted as secondary to diabetes mellitus.,Service connection for basal cell carcinoma is remanded due to insufficient evidence linking it to in-service herbicide exposure.