Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2026

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities do not meet the criteria for service connection under any applicable law and regulations.,Specifically, the evidence does not establish a link between the Veteran's current diagnoses of ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, or throat cancer and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, finding that there was no evidence of direct exposure to herbicides in Korea and concluding that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to his service near the DMZ.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, as his income is below the poverty threshold.

The appeal for initial compensable rating for service-connected scar of the anterior cervical spine, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected right shoulder impingement syndrome is dismissed. Service connection for a heart disability is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for ischemic heart disease status post myocardial infarction was denied as the evidence did not show a factually ascertainable increase in severity prior to May 23, 2024.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to a single disability was denied as the evidence did not show that he had a single service-connected disability that rendered him unable to work. The issue of an effective date prior to July 15, 2009, for TDIU is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic pansinusitis, coronary artery disease (CAD), type 2 diabetes mellitus (diabetes), right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy (PN), and left upper extremity PN are all granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination opinions regarding the Veteran's heart disease, specifically related to his service and claimed exposures.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or being permanently bedridden due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he did not meet the criteria under sections (1), (2), or (3) of 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l). The Board concluded that the Veteran was not permanently bedridden or so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for diabetic nephropathy has been granted, with a 30% rating effective from the date of decision.,The Veteran's hypertension has also been granted an initial 10% rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no current disabilities of chronic fatigue syndrome, insomnia, or hearing loss, and the evidence did not support a finding that CAD, atrial fibrillation, stroke residuals, or hypertension had their clinical onset during active service.

The Veteran's GERD, heart disease, and sleep apnea are granted as secondary to his service-connected Parkinson's disease. The Board is remanding the claims for hypertension and type II diabetes mellitus due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issue of service connection for coronary artery disease, to include as secondary to hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate examination reports and duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, and thus service connection for this condition is denied. The issues of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and heart condition are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore the TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's heart disability was rated at a 60% effective from August 19, 2024. The Board found the evidence supported an earlier effective date of August 24, 2023.

The Veteran's initial increased disability rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) prior to April 26, 2017 was denied.,A separate disability rating of 50 percent for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected CAD is granted since September 10, 2015.,From November 1, 2017 to March 10, 2024, a separate, non-compensable disability rating for chronic kidney disease (CKD) as secondary to service-connected CAD is granted.,Since March 11, 2024, a separate, 30 percent disability rating for CKD as secondary to service-connected CAD is granted.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability, including shortness of breath, and coronary artery disease (CAD). The Veteran's claims were not supported by current medical evidence.,Service connection was also denied for the compensable rating for allergic rhinitis.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for cardiovascular disease (diagnosed as coronary artery disease) due to an error in notifying the Veteran of his right to a pre-adjudication hearing before the RO.