Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for pancreatic cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The decision also remands the claims for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and a heart disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, which is secondary to hypertension and diabetes mellitus due to PTSD, was granted with an effective date of April 23, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder, is granted.,Service connection for GERD, coronary artery disease, and a condition manifested by chronic nosebleeds is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected congestive heart failure and aortic stenosis with coronary artery disease do not result in a workload of 3.0 METs or less resulting in heart failure symptoms, thus the claim for an evaluation in excess of 60 percent is denied.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease/aortic stenosis status post aortic valve replacement was improper, and thus restored the original grant of service connection.

The Veteran's CAD and COPD have been granted initial ratings, with CAD receiving a 60 percent rating from November 10, 2011 to October 17, 2021. The TDIU is granted but considered moot after October 18, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of non-VA medical care received at Aultman Hospital from October 23, 2018 to November 3, 2018 was denied because the treatment did not involve a medical emergency and the Veteran refused transfer to a VA facility.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left and right hip disabilities, heart condition, knee disabilities, residuals of heat stroke (including TBI and cognitive defect), and migraine headaches. The reasons provided include a lack of current diagnoses for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's heart condition, finding that it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, heart disease (including hypertensive heart disease, coronary artery disease (CAD), bradycardia and myocardial infarction), and obesity have been granted. The initial rating for the Veteran's thoracic strain with degenerative disc disease remains at 20 percent.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, high blood pressure, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.,Specifically, the Board found that there was no credible evidence of herbicide exposure in Vietnam or any other basis for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's hypertension, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, atrioventricular block and congestive heart failure are related to in-service toxic exposure risk activities (TERA).,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is also related to in-service TERA.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective June 10, 2020 and an SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ effective June 10, 2021. The Veteran's service-connected conditions have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since June 10, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease with stable angina, left atrial enlargement, and diastolic dysfunction grade 1 as well as hypertension due to in-service toxic exposures. The Veteran's conditions are considered presumptive under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's claims for coronary artery disease, hypertension, aortic aneurysm, left knee disability, and right knee disability have been granted.,Service connection has been established for these conditions based on their presumed relationship to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's heart disorder is related to service. The Veteran will need a VA medical opinion to address this issue.

The Board denied service connection for Coronary Heart Disease and Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 as the evidence did not show an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The Veteran's claims were also not supported by exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's appeal includes issues related to service connection for erectile dysfunction and obstructive sleep apnea, an increased evaluation of coronary artery disease, and earlier effective dates for individual unemployability and Dependents' Educational Assistance. The Board has determined that the claims are remanded due to the need for further development.

The appeal of entitlement to service connection for a heart condition is dismissed. The appeal of entitlement to service connection for hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure) is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions addressing the direct and TERA exposure theories of etiology. The Veteran's VA treatment records are incomplete, and additional efforts must be made to obtain them.