Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2024

The Board found that new evidence did not support reopening the claims for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, type II due to Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran's previous claim of bladder cancer service connection was later determined to be in error.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to be due to Agent Orange exposure during his service in Vietnam, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding service connection for PTSD and heart condition, leading to their dismissal.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 1, 2022 for a 100% rating for ischemic heart disease and coronary artery disease was denied. The claim of entitlement to TDIU is also dismissed as moot due to the assignment of a 100% rating.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated medical opinion regarding the Veteran's coronary artery disease, as previous opinions did not consider his lay statements and appellant's testimony.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) to include as due to service-connected disabilities or treatment.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's heart disorder is related to his military service, specifically considering exposure to gases other than tear gas.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU and DEA. The Board has remanded these claims due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was initially granted with an effective date of June 27, 2023, but later amended to September 9, 2021. He is now seeking earlier consideration on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's heart disability is granted service connection prior to August 10, 2022, on a direct basis due to in-service hazardous material exposure. The effective date for DEA benefits remains September 20, 2021.

The Board has remanded the case for a new medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed heart disability, including as due to herbicide exposure. The current evidence does not provide sufficient opinions on the relationship between any diagnosed heart disabilities and active duty service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of coronary artery disease is presumed related to his in-service herbicide agent exposure during his active military service at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment since June 2014.,The Board finds that the combination of multiple disabilities, including sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, and lumbar condition with radiculopathy, has prevented the Veteran from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 31, 2019 for the award of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance. The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran required permanent assistance from his granddaughter due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability as secondary to service-connected neck disability and denied service connection for a heart disability due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's heart disabilities, including atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, implanted cardiac pacemaker, valvular heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, and atrial fibrillation associated with herbicide exposure, are granted an initial evaluation of 60 percent. The effective date is not established as the claim was filed after August 18, 2022.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for ischemic heart disease is granted from May 23, 2024. The claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus type II is denied.

The Board denied the appellant's appeal, finding that his character of discharge from active military service is a bar to VA benefits. The appeals for service connection for Ischemic Heart Disease and Hypertension were also denied as they are considered direct determinations based on the facts known at the time.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease status post 4 vein CABG is rated at 30 percent effective January 5, 2022. A higher rating of 60 percent for this condition is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD, anxiety, depression, coronary artery disease secondary to psychiatric disability, chronic right ankle pain, chronic left ankle pain, and chronic right knee pain as there is no current evidence of a diagnosed condition.,The Veteran's claims were based on his belief that he developed these conditions during active duty. However, the Board found insufficient medical evidence to support this claim.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than July 27, 2021, for a total disability rating for coronary artery disease status post myocardial infarction is dismissed due to claims processing defects.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than July 27, 2021, for basic eligibility for DEA benefits is dismissed as moot.