Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2024

The Board granted service connection for multiple heart disabilities, diabetes mellitus, type II, hypothyroidism, bladder cancer, hypertension, diabetic nephropathy, peripheral neuropathies, bilateral non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and erectile dysfunction based on the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in Korea.

The Board granted service connection for heart disease as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease and denied service connection for basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and residuals, sleep apnea, enlarged prostate, and voiding symptoms and overactive bladder.

The Board has remanded the claims due to duty-to-assist errors, including failure to obtain private medical records and VA treatment records. The Appellant's spouse is seeking benefits for her late husband's service-connected conditions.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) to readjudicate it based on new and relevant evidence, including VA treatment records and a lay statement linking CAD to in-service exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) with cardiomyopathy was granted effective January 29, 2021. The Veteran's prostate cancer is rated at 20 percent and his entitlement to special monthly compensation based on housebound status was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus type II, and coronary arteriosclerosis (variously characterized as coronary artery disease) due to a lack of VA treatment records from the ADT period during the Veteran's Reserve service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and needs an updated opinion on whether the Veteran's valvular heart disease was aggravated by in-service exposures.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate are granted due to his service-connected disabilities, including right lower extremity neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for a determination on whether he should have been granted TDIU prior to February 23, 2021. The Board finds that the Veteran has continuously pursued his service connection claims since April 25, 2018 and that the issue of whether TDIU can be granted prior to February 23, 2021 remains on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed conditions and therefore service connection is denied. The issues of hypertension, heart disability, disabilities of the upper and lower extremities, anemia, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis are remanded for further development.

Your appeal regarding service connection for coronary artery disease has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal through his representative in March 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and a heart condition, but has remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cardiovascular disease is due to service, and therefore grants his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes, chronic kidney disease, heart condition, and hyperparathyroidism were denied as they are not related to service or exposure to herbicide agents.,Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was also denied.

The Board has determined that the VA examination conducted in July 2022 was inadequate and remanded for a new examination. Additionally, it is noted that all relevant VA treatment records should be obtained.

Your appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for cardiomyopathy, single vessel coronary artery disease, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, and tricuspid regurgitation is dismissed because it was erroneously docketed twice.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right foot frostbite disability or any other disability characterized by symptoms resulting in functional impairment of earning capacity related to service. The evidence does not support finding that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are related to his military service.,The Veteran contends that he has migraine headaches due to sleep apnea, which is already service-connected. However, a VA examination was not provided for this claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition is remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA medical opinion and the need for an addendum examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of death and potential secondary service connection for herbicide-related disorders. The Veteran's cause of death is being reviewed, along with any possible secondary effects from his nonservice-connected conditions.