Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, hypertension, and coronary artery disease (CAD), but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a heart disability, to include chest pain, due to an inadequate VA opinion.

The Board remands the claims for a spinal condition and heart condition, to include as secondary to a spinal disability, for further medical examination and opinion.

The Board granted service connection for heart disease and diabetes, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance as to whether these conditions are etiologically related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to coronary artery disease, as his condition alone does not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for a left knee disorder prior to February 22, 2022, and 20 percent thereafter; a rating in excess of 10 percent for a left knee disorder; and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) for additional development.

The appeal for an increased rating for PTSD was denied, and the claims for service connection were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension, a heart disability, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic kidney disease. A 70 percent rating was also granted for depressive disorder with anxious distress from February 10, 2023.

The Board denied the claims for earlier effective dates for a 60 percent disability rating for valvular heart disease and mitral valve (heart surgery) and a 10 percent disability rating for hypertension.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for various conditions and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance based on the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.

The claims for service connection for hypertension and an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for coronary artery disease are remanded to obtain additional evidence.

The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected PTSD and coronary artery disease contributed to his death.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease with cardiac arrhythmia atrial fibrillation and nonrheumatic aortic valve insufficiency is granted an earlier effective date of November 21, 2022.

The Board granted service connection for valvular heart disease and left ventricular hypertrophy, finding that these conditions are caused by the Veteran's service-connected hypertension.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of December 21, 2022, for the grants of service connection for adjustment disorder, arteriosclerotic heart disease, scars of the anterior trunk, scars of the left lower extremity, and hypertension (HTN).

The Board granted a total disability based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) and denied a compensable rating for hypertension. The service connection claims for thyroid disorder and heart disability were remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection, as well as remanded several new claims.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and hypothyroidism based on the Veteran's presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in or near the Korean Demilitarized Zone.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection and ratings for various conditions, but granted a 100 percent evaluation for coronary artery disease with valvular heart disease s/p coronary artery bypass grafting.

The Board remands the claims for an earlier effective date for service connection of arteriosclerotic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II with ED, and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ due to a pre-decisional failure to follow a statutory or regulatory duty.