Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2024

The Board denied requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation, finding that the submitted evidence was not new and did not warrant reconsideration under 38 C.F.R. § 3.156(c).

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have most nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70% rating for the entire period on appeal. The Veteran is also granted TDIU prior to June 6, 2022.

The Veteran's appeal for specially adapted housing benefits and a higher rate of SMC was denied. The Veteran is entitled to the intermediate rate of SMC (38 U.S.C. § 1114(m)) due to his service-connected eye disability, ischemic heart disease, and bilateral deafness.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, and secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction are all granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.

The Veteran's cardiovascular disease, diagnosed as coronary artery disease, is presumed to have been incurred in service. The Board finds it at least as likely as not that the condition was manifest during service and grants service connection.

The Board has determined that the Appellant's request for Higher-Level Review of the December 2022 Supplemental Statement of the Case was timely. The issue is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error by the AOJ in processing the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error that occurred prior to the May 2024 rating decision on appeal. A VA addendum medical opinion is needed regarding the relationship between the Veteran's heart disability and service exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease with congestive heart failure is rated at 100 percent disabling since October 13, 2020. The Veteran also has a combined rating of 90 percent for other service-connected disabilities, qualifying him for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and ischemic heart disease (IHD) as there was no evidence of herbicide exposure in service, and the claims were not supported by other theories of service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sinusitis, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, a right big toe disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and heart disease due to incomplete records and failure to obtain necessary medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, kidney disability, and several other disabilities are denied. The Board has remanded the remaining service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his claims, and no further action is required.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, myelodysplastic syndrome, chronic kidney failure, right leg amputation, and various peripheral neuropathies, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since March 4, 2011. The effective date for TDIU is set at this date.

The Veteran's initial increased rating for coronary artery disease from September 27, 2013 to May 7, 2021 is denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and coronary artery disease were granted effective January 20, 2022. An initial rating of 40 percent was assigned for prostate cancer residuals.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the deferred issue regarding an increased rating for coronary artery disease associated with herbicide exposure, as the AOJ had deferred making a final decision on this matter.

The Board has remanded four service connection claims for a heart condition, hypertension, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and sinusitis with headaches due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of whether preexisting conditions were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause him to require regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) was granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The effective date of the grant is set at May 10, 2018.,For kidney disease, the Veteran's claim was denied as he did not submit his claim prior to May 10, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, heart disease, stroke residuals, diabetes mellitus, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy were all denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,The Veteran's exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War, or any other specific environment was not considered in this decision.