Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2024

The Board granted TDIU due solely to service-connected coronary artery disease prior to May 31, 2022, and dismissed the appeal for a TDIU beginning May 31, 2022, as it was rendered moot by the grant of a total schedular rating for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection of coronary artery disease due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset during active service.

The Veteran's cause of death is caused by his service-connected coronary artery disease, which was presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during his service in Thailand. The Board has granted the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% rating for valvular heart disease with acute congestive heart disease (CHF) is denied. The evidence does not support a finding that the criteria for a higher rating were met within one year of his March 7, 2022, claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypothyroidism, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and arteriosclerotic heart disease are granted based on the PACT Act presumption of exposure to herbicide agents. However, their claims for service connection on a basis other than as pursuant to the PACT Act are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for cardiac arteriovenous malformation is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether ED was aggravated by his service-connected ischemic cardiomyopathy and myocardial infarction. A new theory of entitlement related to ED secondary to DM2 and PTSD is not addressed as it was raised after the AOJ decision.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for coronary artery bypass graft and total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease does not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation based on his education, skills, training, and work history. The Board finds that the evidence of record persuasively weighs against finding that his heart condition prevents him from travelling.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on three conditions have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension under the PACT Act and remanded other claims for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, which is secondary to his right knee disability. Service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension have been dismissed as there was a concurrent appeal pending.

The Board denied retroactive service connection for ischemic heart disease as there was no evidence of a diagnosis during the Veteran's lifetime.

The Board granted an effective date of December 12, 2019, for the award of accrued benefits for service connection for a heart disability.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and denied service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease, varicose veins, peripheral vascular disease resulting in femoral bypass surgery, diverticulitis, and migraines.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for high cholesterol, back disability, pulmonary granulomas, sleep apnea, COPD, Crohn's disease, headaches, heart disability, seizure disorder, myoclonic jerk disorder, and rhinitis due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to errors in duty to assist and potential exposure to hazardous materials at Fort McClellan. The Veteran's service records are being verified, and VA examinations will be scheduled for his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and heart disability are granted service connection based on in-service herbicide agent exposure. The claims for tongue cancer and skin cancer are remanded due to the need to consider PACT Act provisions.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits are being remanded due to the need to consider new evidence and assess his current occupational capacity.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's asthma should be remanded for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion on whether his service-connected ischemic heart disease may have aggravated his asthma.