Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2025

The Board grants service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease (ischemic heart disease) and myocardial infarction (heart attack), finding that the Veteran's exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in service is related to his current conditions.

The Board restored a 10% rating for hypertension effective November 1, 2024, and dismissed the issue of proposed reduction in the rating for arteriosclerotic heart disease.

The Board remands the claim for a retrospective VA medical opinion to more accurately assess the severity of the Veteran's coronary artery disease from October 1, 2006 to September 1, 2009.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to the Veteran's service-connected heart and leg disabilities, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, left and right hand disabilities, lumbar degenerative disc disease, left and right knee disabilities, hypertension, coronary artery disease, headache disability, vertigo, hiatal hernia/GERD, and effective date prior to June 28, 2018, for the award of service connection for other trauma and stressor-related disorder. The Board granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent, but no higher, for other trauma and stressor-related disorder and a TDIU.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and a cervical spine condition to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a heart disability other than CAD and arrhythmia, to include as due to in-service herbicide exposure, for an updated VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for a heart condition and remanded claims for colon cancer and scar tissue surgery due to insufficient evidence of in-service exposure.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and type II diabetes due to inadequate medical opinions regarding toxic exposures, including jet fuel and cleaning solvents.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including heart disease, an acquired psychiatric disorder, dizziness, a headache disability, a gynecological disability, a left shoulder disability, and a low back disability, due to insufficient evidence.

The Board remands the issues of whether the October 29, 2001, rating decision which denied service connection for a respiratory disability and a cardiac disability is the product of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Board granted service connection for rhinitis, respiratory disorder (shortness of breath), low back pain (lumbar spine disorder), erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD, hypertension as secondary to PTSD, tremors as secondary to PTSD, and migraines as secondary to PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, higher initial ratings, and service connection for various conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a higher initial rating for his depressive disorder and for a 100 percent schedular rating for coronary artery disease with cardiomegaly prior to September 29, 2021. The claims for a compensable rating for scars of the chest, thorax, bilateral groin, and left thigh, and entitlement to TDIU were remanded.

The appeal for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected valvular heart disease with sinus bradycardia has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II, due to presumed exposure to herbicides at Fort McClellan. The claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease, hypertension, sinusitis, diverticulitis, and fibromyalgia were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, and hypertension were etiologically related to active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for asthma, COPD, CAD (claimed as heart disease), DMII, and a kidney disorder based on the evidence not persuasively supporting an in-service incurrence or relationship to service.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for CAD with cardiomyopathy, for the purposes of accrued benefits, is dismissed as moot.

The appeal is remanded to correct duty to assist errors that occurred prior to the July 2021 rating decision.