Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease as secondary to herbicide exposure under the PACT Act. The claims for stroke, epilepsy, and closed head injury are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart disability, hypertension, pulmonary embolism, anemia, helicobacter pylori infection, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to secondary to PTSD. The other issues remain denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II have been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for essential tremor is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion addressing its etiology.

The Veteran's total disability rating for coronary artery disease renders his TDIU claim moot, as the other service-connected conditions do not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU. The effective date of the 100% rating is March 14, 2014.

The Board has granted the petitions to reopen the claims for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the left naris and left ear, and cardiovascular condition. However, both claims have been remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the causal relationship between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection to diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are granted from August 10, 2022, pursuant to the PACT Act. The cases are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding prior periods of service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's heart disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected medications.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disability, erectile dysfunction (ED), and peripheral vascular disease (PVD) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities in the aggregate rendered him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a thyroid disorder and a heart disability due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence suggesting exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in Okinawa, Japan. The Veteran's spouse is seeking service connection for ischemic heart disease, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and polycythemia.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU is granted, as it was factually ascertainable within one year of the receipt of his claim that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) is denied as there is no evidence of chronic congestive heart failure, a workload of greater than 5 METs but not greater than 7 METs results in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope; or evidence of cardiac hypertrophy or dilation on electrocardiogram, echogardiogram, or X-ray. The Veteran's current LVEF is 66 percent.

The Board has denied service connection for high cholesterol and remanded the remaining issues due to lack of medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale provided for service connection of hypertension and/or hypertensive heart disease, specifically related to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's hypertension is found less likely than not related to service or herbicide exposure, and his hypertensive heart disease is also found less likely than not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease with bypass graft does not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating beyond 60 percent, as his symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation based on current medical evidence and diagnostic criteria.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, colitis, and pneumonia. The remaining issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), alcohol abuse, lower back condition, heart condition, joint condition, hypertension, headaches, abnormal weight loss, and chest pain are remanded due to conflicting evidence and incomplete information.

Your appeal for service connection of a heart disability and sleep apnea has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for heart and gastrointestinal disabilities due to additional development, including obtaining medical records from Dr. H., addressing lay statements regarding service-related symptoms, and considering potential toxic exposure risk activities.

Service connection is granted for chorioretinal scar of the right eye.,Service connection is granted for disc bulge at L5-S1, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and muscle spasms of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's service treatment records show complaints and treatment for low back pain during active duty service, and an MRI in 2015 noted a bulging disc near L5.,The Veteran's current left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and/or lumbar radiculopathy are at least as likely as not related to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The examiner did not provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's heart disability is related to active duty service or any other condition.,The Veteran has a current diagnosis of atrial septal defect status post closure and cardiomyopathy, but it is unclear if these conditions are superimposed over his congenital or developmental defects. The examiner did not provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's heart disability is related to active duty service.