Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting VA compensation criteria.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for an epidydimal cyst is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether his reported erectile problems are related to the service-connected condition.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability is remanded as there is no VA Gulf War examination provided, and it is unclear if cardiovascular signs represent undiagnosed illness or chronic multi-symptom illness.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep disorder is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination considering in-service stressors and neuropsychological/sleep symptoms as potential undiagnosed illnesses or chronic multi-symptom illnesses.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability and nerve disability (left side of neck down to left hand fingers) are remanded due to the need for a VA Gulf War examination considering Southwest Asia exposure risks.,reasoning_summary

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and valvular heart disease is remanded due to a duty to assist error regarding private medical records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted, and his service connection claims for various conditions were dismissed. The effective date of the TDIU is not specified in the decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acute, subacute, or old myocardial infarction with arteriosclerotic heart disease (CAD) to include status post CABG associated with herbicide exposure was granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act. The effective date is set at one year prior to the date of receipt of the ITF, which is August 30, 2024.

The Board denied service connection for residual bypass graft scars of the chest and left leg, finding no evidence to support a direct link between these conditions and the Veteran's active service. The TDIU claim was also remanded due to inadequate examination regarding the Veteran's voiding dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease is granted as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder and as a result of toxic exposure risk activities. The Veteran also received a grant for total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, and hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of a direct relationship to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's bladder cancer was granted a maximum, 100 percent rating. He is also entitled to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status since December 14, 2024.

The Veteran's initial 50 percent rating for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is granted. Other conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), type II diabetes, erectile dysfunction, nephrolithiasis and pyelonephritis, lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, and bilateral restless leg syndrome are also granted. Service connection is established for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his coronary artery disease and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease was denied. The current rating of 10 percent is maintained.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including a heart disorder, arthritis of the right big toe, PTSD, erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD, plantar fasciitis, and a right ankle disorder. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the right knee condition.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 15, 2019 for the award of special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate due to the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and valvular heart disease with cardiomyopathy. The decision also grants earlier effective dates for service connection of bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his military service in the Philippines.

The Veteran's heart disease, including ischemic heart disease and aortic valve sclerosis, is related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents.,The Veteran's chronic kidney disease is related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, right knee disorders, left knee disorders, a back disorder, and a heart disorder. The claims are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's spouse, M.S., was added as a dependent for VA compensation purposes effective August 28, 2018. However, the contesting claimant is not eligible for direct payment of fees from past due benefits awarded in this decision.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, finding that his myocardial infarction, multiple myeloma, and coronary artery disease were less likely than not caused by or related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his military service in the Philippines.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examinations and medical opinions in compliance with the PACT Act.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from January 17, 2024 to June 27, 2025. The Board granted the claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) during this period.