Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2024

The Veteran's hypertension is granted on a presumptive basis due to the PACT Act. The issues of service connection for IHD, right eye degenerative disease, left eye degenerative disease, and low back disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a heart disability, including a heart attack, is remanded due to potential garrison exposure under the PACT Act. The Board will consider whether the Veteran's reported use of diesel fuel to burn trash and human waste in empty 55-gallon barrels constitutes a TERA (Toxic Exposure Risk Activity) for purposes of the PACT Act.

The Board has remanded the claims for coronary artery disease and obstructive sleep apnea due to inadequate opinions regarding their relationship to service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and related conditions have been granted. Service connection is also established for ischemic heart disease, diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities, and left upper extremity, but not for right upper extremity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, including atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease, as secondary to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the in-service exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on bases other than the PACT Act has been dismissed as he withdrew his legacy appeal in favor of the AMA system.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a heart disability, sleep apnea, and low back pain, render him unemployable. His claim for TDIU is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if there is a reasonable possibility that the Veteran was unemployable by reason of his service-connected cardiac disability during the period from January 27, 2015 through March 3, 2022. The Veteran should be given another opportunity to submit lay statements addressing the severity of his service-connected conditions and their impact on employment.

The Veteran's throat cancer, heart disability, and prostate cancer were all granted service connection. The Veteran received increased ratings for his prostate cancer residuals and a 100% rating for reoccurring metastasized prostate cancer from July 13, 2017 to January [REDACTED], 2018. His previous ratings for urinary leakage and frequency were discontinued.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or incident that could be linked to her current disability.,The Board also remanded several issues related to heart conditions and associated symptoms such as shortness of breath and chest pain. The primary issue is whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) with a coronary artery bypass graft prior to May 25, 2018 was denied.,The Veteran's subsequent claim for a higher rating for CAD with a coronary artery bypass graft after May 25, 2018 was also denied. However, the Veteran was granted a separate disability rating of 30 percent for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation effective July 1, 2018.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of heart disability, major depressive disorder, and bilateral plantar fasciitis. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Board has granted effective dates of June 11, 2017 for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II with erectile dysfunction and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, a heart disability, and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of an effective date prior to April 12, 2017. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart condition, including his implanted cardiac pacemaker and sick sinus syndrome, did not manifest during service or due to a disease or injury incurred in service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for ischemic heart disease is dismissed. The appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for ischemic heart disease is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disability and heart murmur, finding that there was no current diagnosis of a 'heart murmur' and that the evidence did not support an aggravation of his congenital coronary artery disease during service.

The Veteran's hypertension and heart condition are granted service connection due to herbicide exposure.,Service connection for the heart condition is secondary to the service-connected hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes, heart disorder, prostate cancer, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability and hypertension, finding that the evidence did not support the presence of current disabilities at any time during the appeal period.