Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for ischemic heart disease and hypertension due to potential exposure in the Republic of Vietnam, as well as new evidence received since the last decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertensive heart disease and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) was granted effective January 17, 2023.,Both conditions were associated with herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and a VA examiner is needed to determine if the heart disorder and diabetes mellitus are related to in-service exposure at Fort McClellan.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development regarding exposure to RDX, a chemical compound used in hand grenades at Fort Jackson. The issues of service connection for non-Hodgkins lymphoma and heart condition are also being remanded.

The Veteran's applications to reopen and readjudicate claims for service connection for acne, heart disorder (congestive heart failure with hypertrophy), GERD, and hypertension have been granted. The application for vitamin B-12 deficiency has been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for a cardiac disability, including conflicting VA memorandums on herbicide exposure and inadequate VA examinations. The examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion addressing these issues.

The Board granted an effective date of January 29, 2017 for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claim was received on January 29, 2018, and VA established that he served in Vietnam and was exposed to herbicide agents. An initial rating of 30 percent for coronary artery disease is denied.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus are granted for the appeal period beginning on August 10, 2022 under the PACT Act. The back disability is denied.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as cirrhosis related to alcohol, and the Board found that his service-connected heart condition did not contribute substantially or materially to his death. The Board also determined that there was no evidence to support presumptive service connection for either cirrhosis or ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and increased rating for bilateral nuclear cataracts have been granted. The claim for service connection for a heart disability is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's death was caused by pneumonia due to or as a consequence of renal failure. The service-connected conditions, including PTSD, degenerative disc disease, and hypertension, substantially contributed to the cause of his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding private treatment records, incomplete SSA records, and a need for VA examination regarding toxic exposure claims. The Veteran's heart disorders are being evaluated further.

The appeal for service connection of a heart disorder, claimed as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder, is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disorder, to include sessile arial mass, finding that the Veteran's symptoms first manifested during service as chest pain. The decision is based on evidence showing a currently diagnosed heart disorder and the presence of chest pains in service.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 based on delayed or refusal to provide hyperbaric oxygen treatment was denied because the proximate cause of his additional disability did not result from VA's care, but rather from his own failure to follow medical instructions.

The Board dismissed all service connection claims for various shoulder, wrist, ankle, and spine disorders. The claim for a headache disorder was reopened based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran. Secondary service connection was granted for migraine headaches related to PTSD. Service connection was established for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart condition, transient ischemic attack, and hypertension due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents and asbestos during his service. The claims will be reconsidered with this additional information.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment as of February 7, 2017. Prior to that date, the evidence did not demonstrate sufficient disability to meet TDIU criteria.

The Board denied service connection for DMII, CAD, lymphoma, diverticulosis, and a skin disorder due to lack of in-service exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) and failure to establish direct service connection. Service connection was also denied for ED and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to DMII.