Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU stems from his November 2018 claim, and the effective date of TDIU is denied as a matter of law due to the finality of prior decisions.

The Veteran's cause of death is presumed to be related to military service under the PACT Act, which became effective August 10, 2022. Service connection for the cause of death is granted as of that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease and hypertension have been granted with effective dates of March 10, 2021. The claim for service connection for hypothyroidism has also been granted but the effective date is contingent on the record reflecting it was due to herbicide exposure.

Service connection is granted for migraines, transient ischemic attack (stroke), hypertension, and coronary artery disease all secondary to service-connected laryngeal cancer residuals with carotid artery stenosis.,The VA examiners provided opinions supporting the Veteran's claims of secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for CAD, diabetes, hypertension, and OSA as secondary to multiple service-connected disabilities, including obesity as an intermediary step. The AOJ is instructed to obtain addendum opinions from a VA examiner regarding TERA exposure, causation, aggravation, and obesity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, which was secondary to his service-connected IHD and DM, has been granted. The appeal is dismissed as the benefits sought have been fully granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a compensable rating for a surgical scar have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The appeal is now closed.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and coronary artery disease did not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to April 2, 2018. The Board denied entitlement to a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's current atrial fibrillation and her active duty service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain medical opinions addressing theories of secondary service connection and obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating for various peripheral neuropathies in all four limbs, as well as for a surgical scar secondary to CAD.,Additionally, the appeal for retroactive benefits due to cause of death was also dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and he is also separately and distinctly service connected for a heart disability rated at 60 percent disabling. Therefore, the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU and SMC.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his death.

The Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease) with supraventricular arrhythmia and congestive heart failure is rated at 100 percent effective from January 26, 2017. The appeal for a higher rating prior to this date is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart disorder, headache disorder, and right shoulder disorder due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms will be considered.

Service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension is granted due to presumed exposure under the PACT Act.

The Board found that the Veteran did not file an informal or formal claim for service connection prior to June 15, 2000 for his heart conditions and diabetes. As a result, effective dates were denied.

The Board has denied service connection for asthma and remanded the issues of service connection for a heart disability (claimed as congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation) and chronic kidney disease. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a heart condition and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that his current heart conditions were related to his active-duty service or any other service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). The VA examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that these conditions had their onset during active service or are otherwise etiologically related to such service, including exposure to ionizing radiation and asbestos.