Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease, with congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, atrial fibrillation and AICD is secondary to his service-connected hypertension. The evidence supports this finding.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him permanently bedridden or unable to care for his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person. He is not substantially confined to his house due to service-connected disabilities, nor does he have a single service-connected disability ratable at 100 percent along with other unrelated disabilities that combine to at least 60 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of his coronary artery disease (CAD) is denied as there were no communications from the Veteran prior to January 21, 2010 that can be construed as a pending formal or informal claim. The current effective date of January 21, 2010 precedes the liberalizing law that included ischemic heart disease in the list of diseases presumed to be caused by exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's CAD disability was reduced from 30 percent to 10 percent, but the Board has granted a restoration of the 30 percent rating effective January 4, 2022.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the inextricability of his service connection claims for arteriosclerotic heart disease, s/p stents implant, myocardial perfusion fixed inferior wall defect, hypertension, and seizure disorder. The appropriate remedy is to remand the TDIU claim pending resolution of these service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and heart condition due to insufficient information regarding their etiology. The VA is required to provide an adequate medical opinion on these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected cardiac disabilities resulted in symptoms of fatigue at a workload of more than three but fewer than five METs, warranting a 60 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 100 percent for residuals of thrombosis of the brain vessels with dementia has been denied as he is currently receiving the maximum schedular rating. The claim for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person (A&A) has been granted effective March 2, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for type I diabetes, blurry vision, headaches, a heart condition, insomnia, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy as the evidence did not show these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.,Service connection was denied because there is no medical evidence showing that any of these conditions began during or were otherwise caused by the Veteran's active service.

The Board has denied service connection for coronary artery disease and remanded the left ankle condition claim due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 5, 2014, for the award of service connection for valvular heart disease with congestive heart failure. The decision found that there was no correspondence prior to this date indicating intent to apply for benefits related to these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of death due to ischemic heart disease, finding sufficient evidence to raise a reasonable doubt about both exposure to herbicide agents and causation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for DM2, ischemic heart disease, and prostate cancer due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's cardiorespiratory failure, coronary artery disease, pulmonary hypertension, and end stage renal disease are related to service. The AOJ is instructed to obtain such an opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death is not related to his service, and therefore denied entitlement to service connection for cause of death.

The appeal for service connection for Ischemic Heart Disease is dismissed. Effective dates are granted for service connection and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ, as well as for lower abdomen surgical scars.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted under the PACT Act due to presumed herbicide exposure. Hearing loss of the left ear and hypertension are both granted as presumptive conditions related to service in Vietnam. Service connection for a gastrointestinal disability (IBS) and ischemic heart disease are denied, with no current evidence linking these conditions to service or confirmed herbicide exposure. Erectile dysfunction is also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, and hypertension due to herbicide exposure is granted.,Service connection for kidney disorder, left lower extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as hypertension prior to August 10, 2022, are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension, peptic ulcers (gastric ulcers), prostate cancer, and valvular heart disease were not granted service connection as they are not related to his military service.,Service connection for peptic ulcers was denied because the evidence did not show a chronic condition in service or within one year of separation.