Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease, both presumed to be due to exposure to herbicide agents near the Korean DMZ during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for heart condition, right ankle, right knee, and back (lower) due to inconsistencies in service dates and incomplete medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disorder, characterized as an exercise induced left bundle branch block, began during his active duty service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease prevented him from maintaining substantially gainful employment from June 1, 2023 through April 30, 2024. He also had additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more that are separate and distinct from his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal, prostate, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ is required to provide an examination and opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's heart disability, including as secondary to service-connected disabilities, is remanded due to a duty to assist error in the March 2019 VA examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability, hypertension, and prostate cancer, all presumed to be due to exposure to herbicide agents in service. The heart disability is separate from CAD.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of atherosclerotic heart disease-coronary artery disease, and the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease is dismissed as moot because the same issue was already decided in a previous decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for a heart condition due to severe electrocution, as there is insufficient evidence in the record to determine if his symptoms are related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for Parkinson's disease and heart conditions due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran was exposed to contaminated soil, sediment, ground water, and surface water at Fort Richardson during his military service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals because he did not timely file a valid appeal request for the November 14, 2023, and January 12, 2024, rating decisions. The Veteran was unable to identify which specific issues he wanted to appeal within one year of receiving the decision letters.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors and the need for additional medical opinions regarding his liver disorder, heart disorder, erectile dysfunction, edema, right hip arthritis, and left hip arthritis.

The claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, left ankle disability (secondary to service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities), bilateral hip disability (secondary to service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities), heart disability, erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been dismissed.

The Veteran's cause of death is granted due to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service, leading to current diagnoses of coronary artery disease and hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition and liver condition are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The Board will consider whether these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee strain and psychiatric disorders (generalized anxiety disorder and depression) are granted service connection.,Service connection for a thoracolumbar disorder is granted as secondary to the service-connected left knee strain. The Veteran's CAD and DM are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide exposure in service.,The Veteran's CAD is granted based on conceded in-service toxic exposure risk activities (TERA) and hypertension, while his DM is granted based on TERA and service-connected left knee strain.

The appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed as moot because the Veteran's service-connected disabilities resulted in a combined schedular evaluation of at least 70% prior to October 15, 2024, and he was able to maintain employment despite his conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for ratings on four different conditions have been dismissed due to his death during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart condition, hypertension, and dry eye syndrome due to errors in obtaining medical records and providing clarification opinions.