Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2024

The Veteran's prostate cancer, left eye nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, left lower extremity and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and coronary artery disease (status post NSTEMI) have been granted initial evaluations. Effective dates for these determinations are also established.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD and his TDIU claim, finding that there was no evidence linking his sleep apnea to his service-connected PTSD or any other service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to service. The Board also found that any pre-existing condition did not worsen during his second period of active duty.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating. The lung condition issue (COPD) and heart condition issue are both remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, hypertension, bilateral eye disorder, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy due to exposure to herbicide agents during military service in the Korean DMZ. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, posttraumatic stress disorder, diabetes mellitus, and tinnitus, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment from April 30, 2014, to October 16, 2014. The Board granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart condition, chilblains and paresthesias of the bilateral lower extremities (claimed as cold injury residuals), neck condition, and low back condition. The left knee and right knee conditions have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including heart disability secondary to hypertension, psoriasis, dry eye syndrome, and scars of the abdomen and lumbar spine. The effective dates for these claims are pending verification of all periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of clarity in the record regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance prior to February 24, 2021. The Veteran will be scheduled for an examination to address this question.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus type 2, heart disease, and peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete medical opinions. The Veteran was exposed to jet fuels during service but exposure to herbicide agents is not conceded.

The Board has granted effective dates of March 30, 2021 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, CAD, bronchitis, and hypertension. The effective date is based on the date each claim was first raised by the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including residuals of stroke, ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and hypothyroidism, all of which were deemed not related to herbicide exposure in Korea.

The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to establish service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, and remands the case for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of service connection and increased rating, as well as earlier effective date issues. The Board finds pre-decisional duty to assist errors in the current record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with effective dates of January 27, 2017. The conditions are related to her service-connected psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran had ischemic heart disease before his passing. The case will be returned for further development, including obtaining a new medical opinion from a cardiologist.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, coronary artery disease, and other conditions.

The Veteran's heart disability and hypertension are granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The claims for presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure are denied.

The appeals for service connection of various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examination and to obtain VA treatment records. The issues include increased ratings for coronary artery disease and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.