Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an exercise stress test, which is required for proper evaluation. The Veteran's current treatment notes and VA examination do not provide sufficient information to determine if he can perform such a test.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and tinnitus, as well as an increased rating for major depressive disorder, are being remanded. The issue of eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) is also being addressed.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder and peripheral neuropathy, finding that the Veteran did not have ischemic heart disease or establish continuity of symptomatology. The evidence also did not show direct service connection.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for anxiety, coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus, right lower extremity diabetic polyneuropathy, and left lower extremity diabetic polyneuropathy as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings and effective dates, as well as service connection claims related to sciatica, degenerative disc disease, adjustment disorder, right shoulder impingement syndrome, and heart condition secondary to weight gain.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for ischemic heart disease is denied. The claim for service connection for Parkinson's disease or Parkinsonism due to herbicide exposure is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's heart disability is granted for service connection from August 10, 2022 pursuant to the PACT Act. The claim for service connection prior to that date remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, a left hip disability, a back disability, a heart disability, a left knee disability, and a right knee disability. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to military service.

The Veteran's appeal for payment of service-connected benefits during the period from September 1, 2022 to December 1, 2022 is dismissed because he has already expressed disagreement with this issue in a prior decision.

The Veteran's service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, cervical spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, restless leg syndrome, CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), fibromyalgia, recurrent ulcer disability to include gastric ulcers, and heart disability to include coronary heart disease have been granted. The Veteran's service connection for these conditions is based on new evidence submitted since the last decision.

The appeal for service connection for resection of the small intestine is dismissed. The issue of service connection for coronary artery disease is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased CAD, service connection for OSA and Headache Disability have been denied. The TDIU claim has been remanded.

The Board denied service connection for heart disorder, diabetes mellitus, type II, and prostate cancer all claimed as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Board found no evidence of a link between the Veteran's military service and these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions were dismissed due to the death of the appellant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded several claims due to duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining additional medical records and providing a complete examination for the Veteran's heart disability. The COPD claim is also inextricably intertwined with the heart disability claim.

A 10 percent rating is granted for coronary artery disease (CAD) prior to December 9, 2021.,A 100 percent rating is granted for CAD from December 9, 2021 forward. A 10 percent rating is also granted for a left chest scar.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and/or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that his appeal for TDIU is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of complete service treatment records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's heart disability is being reviewed again for proper assessment.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder and coronary artery disease (CAD) is remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions regarding the relationship between his OSA, obesity, and his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has readjudicated the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a heart condition, and hypertension due to new evidence submitted since the August 2019 rating decision. The Veteran's stressor statement provided in March 2020 was considered, along with VA treatment records and a VA examination, which supported reopening of these claims.