Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2025

The appeal is remanded to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Board needs new opinions on whether the Veteran's psychiatric disorder was aggravated by service-connected heart disability and/or diabetes.

The Board granted the Veteran's attorney fees of 20 percent of past-due benefits awarded in a March 2023 rating decision. The appeal was based on increased evaluations for unspecified anxiety disorder and CABG.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders were denied. The claims for service connection for the right foot, left foot, bilateral wrists, bilateral shoulders, and heart disorder were remanded.

The Board denied increased ratings for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction but remanded claims related to ulcerations secondary to DMII, total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, a heart condition, multiple myeloma, anemia, tinnitus, and a kidney condition. The Veteran's claims were based on alleged exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Okinawa.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding no evidence that his military service or service-connected conditions contributed to his death.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his death was not attributable to service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a heart disability and a gastrointestinal disability to ensure compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to January 21, 2017, for surgical residuals of a coarctation of the aorta and entitlement to TDIU prior to that date as these issues have already been adjudicated by the Board.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease status post coronary artery bypass graft is currently rated at 60 percent from March 19, 2024. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's cause of death, listed as dissecting coronary artery on his death certificate, is found to be service-connected due to the Veteran's in-service herbicide exposure (Agent Orange). The Board granted service connection for the cause of death based on direct evidence and favorable medical opinion.

The veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, pseudophakia, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were granted based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service at Fort McClellan.

The veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating was dismissed because the veteran withdrew the appeal.

The veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings was partially granted. The veteran received a higher rating for coronary artery disease and both sciatic neuropathies, but the appeal for higher ratings for femoral neuropathies was denied.

The appeal is remanded to schedule an examination with a VA clinician to determine the relationship between the veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and mental health symptoms.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; ischemic heart disease; and peripheral neuropathy in all four extremities.

The appeal was dismissed because the veteran died while it was pending.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II because the evidence did not show a link to military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension due to herbicide agent exposure are remanded. The Board will correct duty-to-assist errors before deciding the remaining claims on appeal.

The veteran's PTSD rating was denied, but the CAD and TDIU claims were remanded for further review.