Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including increased ratings for cervical strain and valvular heart disease, as well as claims of service connection for radiculopathy in both upper and lower extremities. The issues are being remanded due to inadequate or incomplete examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for premature atrial contractions is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the condition is not related to his military service.,Service connection is granted for coronary artery disease due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's heart condition, characterized as coronary artery disease following a bypass graft, does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent from October 1, 2017. The evidence shows that his heart condition requires continuous medication but does not result in symptoms with a workload of 7.0-7.1 METs or less, nor is there evidence of cardiac hypertrophy or dilation.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD). The evidence is at least evenly balanced regarding whether the service-connected CAD aggravated the Veteran's hypertension.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for a higher rating of 30 percent for coronary artery disease as the appellant requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for ischemic heart disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, skin cancer, diabetes mellitus, and thyroid cancer as there is no persuasive evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease was granted a 60% rating, effective from December 1, 2014. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and left upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were also granted.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for coronary artery disease are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability and a bilateral shoulder disability, finding that the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and ischemic heart disease due to exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are presumed based on his service in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous remand directives and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete compliance with previous directives and further development is needed. The cause of death claim will require a VA examination, while the survivor's pension claim must be re-adjudicated as there were errors in notification and due process.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for two lower abdominal hernias, chronic headaches, coronary artery disease (CAD), and a mental health disorder to allow for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease was denied from April 20, 2015, forward. A 100 percent disability rating was granted from January 19, 2015, to April 19, 2015.

The Veteran's heart disability, including acute, subacute, or old myocardial infarction, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, valvular heart disease, and coronary artery bypass graft, was granted a 100 percent disability rating effective April 18, 2016. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100 percent rating for service-connected heart disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, heart disorders, erectile dysfunction, headaches, visual disorder, skin disorder, and respiratory disorder are all denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or a causal relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased disability rating for left knee degenerative joint disease and service connection for a heart disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of his conditions from October 21, 2008 onwards. The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating is remanded for a retrospective opinion on the severity of his left knee DJD. The Veteran's claim for service connection is remanded for further development regarding potential herbicide exposure and to obtain a TERA memorandum.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder including left bundle branch block, finding that it is not caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, kidney disease, heart disease, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate efforts in scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates were denied as the claims had already become final due to a prior reduction in rating.