Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2026

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that the evidence supports his claim for TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and hypertensive heart disease with heart failure (claimed as cardiomyopathy) due to exposure during military service, specifically through the TERA program. The claims are based on a positive nexus opinion provided by VA medical examiners who considered the Veteran's participation in toxic exposure risk activities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 13, 2019.

Your appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board cannot issue a decision on your claims as they are no longer pending.

The Board has determined that the March 2025 rating decision did not address all of the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and kidney disorder. The AOJ must provide a TERA examination and medical opinion if necessary to establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to obtain opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

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 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 entitlement to a 100% rating for CAD is granted from December 19, 2024 to March 31, 2025. For the remainder of the appeal period, his entitlement to any greater than 30% rating for CAD is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral breast mastectomy and breast cancer are granted as secondary to toxic exposure risk activities (TERA) during service.,Cushing's syndrome, including pituitary tumor and removal, is granted as secondary to toxic exposure risk activities (TERA) during service.,Pituitary tumor headaches, heart condition, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension are all granted as secondary to Cushing's syndrome.,The Veteran's hysterectomy is not related to her active service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for his heart disability, including congestive heart failure and valvular heart disease, which is caused by his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an addendum addressing the Veteran's service connection claim for IHD and CAD, which was based on presumed exposure to burn pits during his service in Saudi Arabia.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected on a direct basis. However, his cardiovascular disability (to include ventricular arrhythmia and valvular heart disease) is denied due to lack of evidence meeting the presumptive criteria for such disabilities.

The Veteran's service during the September 11, 2001 attacks was with the New York State National Guard and not federal service for which compensation may be authorized. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have disability due to disease or injury in active military, naval, air or space service because the service for which he claims compensation was state and not federal service.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to acute respiratory failure, with pulmonary edema, acute renal failure, renal cell cancer, and coronary artery disease as contributing causes. The VA examiner found that the asbestos exposure did not contribute to these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, finding that the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam or its territorial waters and thus could not establish presumptive service connection. The Board also found no direct evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, emphysema, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and sleep apnea (OSA) as the evidence did not support a causal relationship to the Veteran's military service or in-service exposures.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of a heart disorder (patent foramen ovale). The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the proposed reduction of his rating for hypertensive heart disease, including valvular heart disease and aortic insufficiency.

The Veteran's cause of death, acute coronary insufficiency due to atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, is considered presumptively related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. As the Veteran served in Vietnam and his condition is presumed for herbicide-exposed veterans, service connection for the cause of death is granted.