Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a heart condition is dismissed as the Board has already granted it. The appeal for increased rating of PTSD is also dismissed due to the grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, which was listed as 'natural causes' on his death certificate, is more likely due to coronary artery disease and hypertension. These conditions are presumed service-connected based on exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange). The Board granted DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1310.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary heart disease (CAD) is not causally related to an injury, event, or disease in service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various psychiatric disabilities, arrhythmia, cardiac amyloidosis, and CAD/arteriosclerotic heart disease are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the initial ratings assigned for psoriatic arthritis of the upper and lower extremities, as well as service connection for a cervical spine disorder, need to be remanded due to incomplete evidence. The Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ADT) and inactive duty for training (IDT) must be confirmed, and all relevant medical records should be obtained.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates for hypertension and coronary artery disease (CAD) as both issues were previously decided by the Board on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act, which precludes an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, as evidenced by his inability to dress or undress himself, keep himself clean and presentable, and manage his daily medications. The Board has granted entitlement to SMC(l).

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of ambulance travel expenses incurred on June 17, 2025 due to an emergency heart attack. The ambulance service was provided by a volunteer organization and later intercepted by a higher-tier EMT company.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for myocardial infarction, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and coronary artery disease was dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claim.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disability was withdrawn. Service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis pursuant to the PACT Act is granted. The claims for lumbar spine, cervical spine, heart, and GERD disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher level of SMC was denied as the Board found that he is already in receipt of SMC at the (l) rate based on need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease with congestive heart failure. A second award of SMC at the (l) rate based on need for regular aid and attendance was not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected arteriosclerotic heart disease is rated at 60% and has rendered him unemployable from February 17, 2023 to July 24, 2023. The Board also granted a special monthly compensation based on the housebound criteria.

The Board has denied service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II due to the lack of a current disability. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded as there were pre-decisional duty to assist errors regarding missing National Guard service records and incomplete VA audiological opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for an allowance for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, as he does not have physical loss of use of hands or feet, permanent impairment of vision in both eyes, severe burn injury, ALS, or ankylosis of knees or hips.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, PTSD, and multiple orthopedic conditions, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for cardiomegaly with cardiac hypertrophy and valvular heart disease has been dismissed due to the appellant withdrawing the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for an automobile or adaptive equipment allowance due to his ischemic heart disease and diabetic neuropathies. The Board has ordered a remand for further examination of his upper and lower extremity disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension. Service connection is also granted for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, but the issues are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for artery disease, COPD, diabetes, and heart disease due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.,Given the grant of TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD, the Veteran has a single service-connected disability rated as total (PTSD) and additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more.