Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes, a respiratory disorder, ischemic heart disease, and pancreatic cancer to conduct further development to verify the Veteran's alleged exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during its pendency.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for valvular heart disease with orthostatic hypotension and allergic rhinitis (claimed as sinusitis) because the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board denied service connection for benign prostatic hyperplasia and remanded the claims for left hand malignant melanoma, malignant melanoma of the face, heart disability, aortic aneurysm, and peripheral vascular disease of both lower extremities.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as it had already been granted. The claims for heart condition, PTSD, and prostate cancer were remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertensive heart disease and hypertensive vascular disease, as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board granted an effective date of March 30, 2022, for the awards of service connection for PTSD, irritable bowel syndrome, and arteriosclerotic heart disease.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, increased ratings, and TDIU, but granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability beginning September 29, 2023.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for DEA, service connection for various scars, and CAD, all based on the Veteran's Intent to File (ITF) received on August 28, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and PTSD with anxiety and depression, but denied service connection for a heart disorder. All other claims were dismissed or remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for chronic kidney disease, valvular heart disease with atrial fibrillation and heart failure preserved ejection fraction (claimed as coronary artery disease), hypertension, and rheumatoid arthritis to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for heart disease and liver disability, to include supraventricular arrhythmia and cirrhosis respectively, due to water contamination at Camp Lejeune.

The Board denied earlier effective dates, higher ratings for PTSD and CAD, a rating for RLE PN, TDIU, and DEA eligibility.

The Board granted an initial rating of 100 percent for coronary artery disease with bypass graft, as the Veteran's workload of 3.0 METs or less resulted in dyspnea and fatigue throughout the appeal period.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, coronary artery disease with coronary artery bypass graft residuals, right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease with below the knee amputation residuals, and left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, all of which are related to the Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood.

The Board denied service connection for atrial septal defect, a congenital defect, as it was not subject to a superimposed disease or injury during active service that resulted in additional disability.

The Board remands the case to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence regarding the Veteran's cause of death, specifically addressing theories related to diabetes, coronary artery disease, and a potential psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and coronary artery disease, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and he required regular aid and attendance due to his health conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore, a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus, granted an initial 30 percent rating for the acquired psychiatric disability prior to April 22, 2019 and a 50 percent rating from April 22, 2019 to December 26, 2019, but denied a rating in excess of 50 percent thereafter. The Board also denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for ischemic heart disease.