Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and type II diabetes mellitus due to insufficient development of evidence regarding potential exposure to toxins other than herbicides.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for stroke, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, and heart disease as secondary to service-connected disabilities due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a heart condition, arteriosclerosis, and hypertension to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy and diabetes, have been found to preclude him from securing and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an effective date prior to March 30, 2018, for the award of service connection for tinnitus, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The Board also denied a compensable rating prior September 13, 2023, and a rating in excess of 10 percent on and after September 13, 2023, for maxillary sinusitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of old myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease, finding that December 1, 2022 was the proper effective date.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including verification of exposure to herbicide agents in Guam and obtaining a new medical opinion regarding skin disabilities.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) for additional development and referral to the Director, Compensation Service.

The appeal regarding entitlement to service connection for hypertension and a heart condition is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 60 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) status post myocardial infarction and coronary artery bypass graft prior to Sept 12, 2022, was granted.

The Board remands the matter for a new VA examination and medical opinion to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed heart conditions, including hypertension and cardiomyopathy.

The Board remands the claim for a heart disability to address a pre-decisional duty to assist error and obtain additional evidence.

The appeal of the issue of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for ischemic heart disease from January 27, 2019 was dismissed due to a lack of live case or controversy.

The Board denied service connection for obesity, a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss disability, an increased rating for tinnitus, and an increased rating for PTSD. The issues of service connection for various disabilities were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, hypothyroidism, and dementia secondary to hearing loss due to a need to verify herbicide exposure and obtain an adequate medical opinion.

The Board denied entitlement to TDIU prior to July 1, 2013, due to the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease alone.

The Board granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and tinnitus, while denying service connection for various other disabilities including the right ankle, left ankle, right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, left knee, heart, respiratory, kidney, venous thrombosis, urinary hesitancy, acute metabolic encephalopathy, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, sleep disturbance, abdominal distension, atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease, neurological disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, erectile dysfunction, stroke, skin disability, fibromyalgia, bilateral foot pain, hammer toes, tinea pedis, meningitis, GERD, traumatic brain injury, and irritable bowel syndrome. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss and a back disability.

The Veteran was granted a 100 percent evaluation for coronary artery disease status post cardiac pacemaker implantation and SMC at the housebound rate effective from August 10, 2018.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, which is coronary artery disease, based on exposure to herbicide agents during service. The claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 was dismissed as moot.

The Board granted an effective date of July 21, 2016, for the grants of service connection for a heart disability, chest scar, and diabetes mellitus type II.