Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2024

The Veteran is granted eligibility for specially adapted housing and SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including a below-the-knee amputation.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and coronary artery disease are granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act.,The Veteran's hypothyroidism is granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act. However, verification of service in Vietnam is needed to determine if an earlier effective date can be assigned.,The right knee disability is remanded for further development and medical opinion.

The Board has granted effective dates prior to October 28, 2019, for the Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease is granted based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service within the twelve nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam.

The Veteran's attorney waived the fees awarded for service connection and TDIU, so the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a heart condition due to duty-to-assist errors and internal inconsistencies in the examination report. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to an earlier effective date for hypertension prior to August 10, 2022 and entitlement to a compensable rating for hypertension. The Veteran's representative argued that he should have an earlier effective date based on the PACT Act.

The Board has granted service connection for valvular heart disease effective June 28, 2019. The decision is based on the Veteran's initial claim submitted on that date.

The Board has determined that a VA medical opinion is needed to address the relationship between the Veteran's previously service-connected conditions and his cause of death. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The appeal for service connection on five conditions (heart condition, high blood pressure, diabetes, left foot swelling, and left leg swelling) has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased rating claims have been dismissed due to his death. The issues of service connection for a gall bladder disability, pancreatic cancer, heart disability (also claimed as aneurysm), and lung disability (diagnosed as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) were not pursued further.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the heart disorder and its relationship to service-connected conditions. The Veteran's claim for service connection is being returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions. The claims will be reconsidered with a full accounting of his training dates, addendum opinions on the etiology of each condition, and consideration of secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases of entitlement to service connection for a heart disability, heart murmur, and cardiac arrhythmia due to incomplete medical opinions.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate are granted from December 6, 2018 to November 4, 2019 due to his service-connected heart condition.

The Veteran's claim for a 30 percent rating for coronary artery disease is granted, effective October 6, 2017. The request for an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease due to Agent Orange exposure is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD), Diabetes Mellitus, Type II (DM), tinnitus, and Hypertension (HTN) have been denied. The Veteran was also remanded for further review of his claim for service connection for a disability manifest by dizziness secondary to a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's IHD is rated at 60 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the applicable criteria. His DM is currently rated at 20 percent, and tinnitus at 10 percent. The Veteran's HTN does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart condition, including ventricular arrhythmia, as secondary to service-connected hypertension. The claims for COPD and knee conditions are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, diabetes mellitus type II, and coronary artery disease have been granted. The rating for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and heart condition due to a duty-to-assist error and a potential TERA claim.