Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, prostate cancer residuals, hypertension, and stroke/stroke residuals have been granted. The grants are based on presumptive exposure to herbicide agents during service.,Service connection has also been granted for carotid artery disease and erectile dysfunction, but the issues remain pending as they are related to other granted conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to a duty to assist error in failing to obtain his complete service treatment records and conflicting information regarding his social security number and date of birth. The issues will be reconsidered after these matters have been addressed.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and none of his service-connected conditions were significant contributors to his death. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for TDIU as he could perform sedentary work despite his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD with alcohol use disorder in partial remission and ischemic heart disease due to untimely filing of Notice of Disagreement (NOD) forms.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and a need for further development. The issues of entitlement to service connection for recurrent ingrown toenail of the left great toe and grade II diastolic dysfunction (heart disease) are being returned to the AOJ for additional review.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable disability rating for hypertension is dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, and type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was due to atherosclerotic heart disease including CAD, which is presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service. The appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's hypertension is service-connected and has led to cardiomyopathy and atypical chest pain. The Board granted service connection for these conditions secondary to the service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is granted as it is presumed due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition in the record.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, ischemic heart disease, and PTSD due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran is advised that he needs to cooperate in providing information for his claim.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease was granted a 10 percent evaluation from December 26, 2017 to August 26, 2021. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in his evaluation beyond this period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of potential radiation exposure during service.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertensive heart disease and hypertension. The claims are being remanded due to a lack of a VA examination or medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety and depression, are found to be related to his service-connected left shoulder disability.,His left knee condition is determined to be at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's hypertension, gout (bilateral heel), heart conditions, renal cell carcinoma, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are remanded for further review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for TDIU and special monthly compensation based on statutory housebound criteria. The Veteran was granted a combined rating of 80 percent for his service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease rated at 100 percent, which alone qualifies him for TDIU.

The Board has restored service connection for coronary artery disease with ventricular arrhythmia, finding that the original grant of service connection was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The Veteran's appeal to restore TDIU is also granted.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus was granted effective January 5, 2013.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for chest scar is denied as the date of entitlement predates his November 24, 2020 claim.,The Veteran's heart disability remains at a 30% evaluation from April 1, 2021 onwards.,The Veteran's chest scarring does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease has not met the criteria for a higher rating, as it does not result in heart failure symptoms with a workload of 3.0 METs or less.