Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for a heart condition and hypertension, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected depression disorder and anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease requires treatment with continuous medication, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of heart failure symptoms or cardiac hypertrophy/dilatation.

The Board has remanded the case for extraschedular TDIU consideration prior to November 8, 2010 due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's conditions include PTSD, coronary artery disease, Parkinson's disease, and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and major depressive disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no one has requested substitution for the Veteran.

The Board has determined that there is pre-decisional error in the decision on appeal and a VA examination is required to address the Veteran's heart condition claim.

The Board is remanding the claims of service connection for lower back pain conditions, upper back pain conditions, right and left upper extremity radiculopathy, heart condition, and hypertension due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's hearing loss claim remains denied.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and stroke due to improper procedural issues.

The Veteran's appeals for initial disability ratings and the service connection effective dates for erectile dysfunction, right ear hearing loss, prostate cancer, diabetes, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and coronary artery disease have been dismissed due to withdrawal of these appeals.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for prostate cancer, diabetes, and bilateral lower extremity and upper extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied as there is no evidence in the record indicating that he filed an informal claim prior to the respective effective dates.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease and PTSD have been granted initial and increased ratings.,Effective July 10, 2024, the Veteran is rated at 100 percent for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disability may be related to service, and a remand is required for an addendum opinion regarding its etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to chemical exposure during service, including contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and herbicide agent exposure. The VA is required to obtain medical opinions addressing the possibility of a nexus between his toxic exposure risk activities (i.e., his exposure to contaminated drinking water and other chemicals) and his claimed disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease (CAD) status post PCI based on new evidence received after the initial denial, with effective dates set at April 8, 2021, and April 13, 2021 respectively.

The Veteran's SMC from January 5, 2018, to April 12, 2023, is granted at the rate under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(n) due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as the fact that the Veteran did not appeal the initial rating assigned for PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension under the PACT Act, but has remanded all other issues due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's heart disability, sleep apnea, colon cancer, and COPD are still on appeal.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, heart disability (coronary artery disease), and hypertension are granted as they are presumed to be due to exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided for service connection of atrial fibrillation as secondary to hypertension is inadequate and requires additional opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to duty-to-assist errors and insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributing to his death.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and rating of ingrown toenail has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of all issues.