Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional evidence, including medical records from various healthcare providers and facilities. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for his coronary artery disease is now pending.

The Board has found that the previous remand directives were not substantially complied with and a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's heart condition is related to his military service, hypertension, or pain medication for back disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a heart disability are granted, with the latter receiving an increased rating to 70 percent. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition and PTSD, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA treatment records, determine if the Veteran participated in toxic exposure risk activities (TERAs) during service, and schedule VA examinations for hypertension, coronary artery disease, and tinea pedis.

The Veteran's current coronary artery disease is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam. The decision is based on the presumption of exposure under VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus does not render him unemployable, and his heart disorder is not shown to be related to herbicide exposure or secondary to his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has vacated the previous decisions that denied service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy. The claims are now considered.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease associated with sinus bradycardia, syncope and tachycardia is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. The right clavicle fracture, right clavicle scar, left knee strain and joint osteoarthritis, and arterioslerotic heart disease are all found to be related to service. A rating of 30 percent has been assigned for bilateral hearing loss from October 28, 2019 through February 5, 2023.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 80 percent, based on a 60 percent disability rating for ischemic heart disease and a 10 percent rating for hypertension. The criteria for entitlement to TDIU are not met as his service-connected disabilities alone do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for further action and consideration of extraschedular TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for HTN, DM, pheochromocytoma, and a heart condition due to new evidence submitted. However, the claims remain denied as there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period prior to August 9, 2016. For the period between August 9, 2016 and October 1, 2017, the weight of evidence did not support a finding that any other service-connected disability prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates as they were not properly appealed and became final.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to verify the Veteran's claimed herbicide exposure on his flight from Kunsan AB to Kwang Ju AB in Korea.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions of coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension are granted under the PACT Act. Service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is also granted. However, service connection for enlarged aorta remains pending as it requires further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records from various providers and facilities. The Veteran's disabilities on appeal include eye disability, hearing loss, tinnitus, kidney disorder, skin disorder, psychiatric disorder, foot disability, and heart disorder.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, ischemic heart disease, and residuals of traumatic brain injury due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.,There was no credible evidence of herbicide exposure or POW status in North Korea.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not manifest during or as a result of his military service.