Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease was granted with an effective date of August 10, 2022 due to the PACT Act expanding Agent Orange exposure presumptions. The Board found that all criteria for direct service connection were met within one year of the original claim filing.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for a heart condition due to an error in providing proper notice regarding his right to a hearing on a supplemental claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease, and hypertension) have precluded him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation since March 25, 2025. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's heart disorder, specifically coronary artery disease with stable angina status post coronary artery bypass graft, is rated at an initial 30 percent from September 10, 2023. The rating is based on the Veteran's METs level being between 5.1 and 7.0, which results in heart failure symptoms.

The Veteran's TDIU based solely on his service-connected psychiatric disability is granted from March 30, 2010 to the present.,SMC for housebound status due to heart disease is granted effective February 29, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease was denied because the submitted evidence did not prove or disprove a matter at issue within the claim.

The Board has denied service connection for a heart disability and remanded the issue of service connection for right upper arm lipomas due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent for limitation of flexion, and separate ratings are granted for instability prior to February 7, 2021 (10%) and from that date (20%). A compensable rating for the surgical scar is denied. The Veteran's painful right knee scar also receives a separate 10 percent rating.,The claim of service connection for coronary artery disease remains pending as it has been remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral lower and upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathies, cardiovascular disease (including ischemic heart disease with myocardial infarction), and hypertension. The evidence does not establish herbicide agent exposure during the Veteran's service in Korea on a presumptive basis or based on direct evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special home adaptation as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of heart, left hand, and right hand disabilities have been denied.,The claim for TDIU has also been denied as the effective date is not earlier than February 3, 2023.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions and new evidence submitted by the Veteran's representative. The claim will be reconsidered with additional medical opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's supraventricular arrhythmia, including its relationship to service-connected asthma.

The Board has granted an initial 30 percent rating for the Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD) status post myocardial infarctions, finding that his symptoms with a workload of greater than 5 to 7 METs are in balance with the evidence. The decision is based on the results from exercise stress testing and echocardiogram.

Service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus is granted. Service connection for macular degeneration is remanded due to lack of a VA examination addressing the issue.

The Board has denied service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, heart disability, right and left clavicle disabilities, back disability, right upper extremity non-diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity non-diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity non-diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity non-diabetic peripheral neuropathy as these conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of December 2, 2003 for the award of service connection for heart disability is granted. The issues of increased rating and TDIU are remanded due to outstanding medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating issues due to outstanding VA and private treatment records not being obtained prior to adjudication.

The Board has granted service connection for Parkinson's disease and Arteriosclerotic heart disease (CAD) due to the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his military service at or near the Korean DMZ.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of thyroid removal, heart condition (including PVC), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to the Veteran's withdrawal prior to a decision.