Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2024

The Veteran's CAD status post MI is granted a rating of 100 percent effective June 5, 2024.,SMC for the Veteran is granted from January 21, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The appeal is remanded due to the need for further evaluation and evidence regarding service connection for low back disability, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) is being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability is also being remanded as it may affect the CAD rating decision.

The Board has determined that the VA Regional Office (RO) did not properly consider the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in South Korea, leading to a remand for further development and consideration of his claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of clarification on whether the fatty liver disease is secondary to the service-connected coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction, including any medications used for these conditions.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service records are incomplete and remands for further efforts to obtain these records. The issues of service connection remain on appeal.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals of service connection for left knee replacement, hypertension, and CAD under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) because the Veteran did not withdraw his Legacy appeal for these issues.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to warrant readjudication of the claim for service connection for heart disease, including dilated cardiomyopathy and ischemic heart disease. The AOJ must now consider whether these conditions are related to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cause of death, specifically related to his service-connected conditions and military service.

Your appeal for service connection of a heart murmur has been dismissed without prejudice due to the Veteran's death. The claim is not about exposure to specific hazards like Agent Orange or Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of coronary artery disease, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease for accrued benefits purposes due to a lack of an Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER). The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss for accrued benefits purposes is denied as there was no new and relevant evidence presented.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to be related to his service in Thailand due to exposure to herbicide agents, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's low back disability and heart disability (valvular heart disease) are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions cause him to need the regular aid and attendance of another person to remain clean and presentable, and to protect him from the hazards and dangers incident to his daily environment. The Board has granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his active duty in Gulfport, Mississippi. The claims are based on presumptive exposure.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from August 10, 2018 to June 29, 2020 due to his service-connected disabilities. From June 30, 2020 to the present, he is in receipt of a 100 percent schedular rating for coronary artery disease and a combined rating of at least 60 percent for other service-connected disabilities, making TDIU moot.

The Veteran's cause of death is remanded for further evaluation, including a medical opinion on the primary and contributory causes of his death. The Board finds that there may be a connection between the Veteran's hypertension and heart disease with service, but more evidence is needed to determine if these conditions caused or contributed to his death.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, COPD, heart disease, and rheumatoid arthritis as the evidence did not establish a relationship to service.,Specifically, the Veteran's military records were silent on any diagnosis or treatment of these conditions. The private medical records from 2023 indicated diagnoses but did not relate them to service.