Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2026

The Veteran's eligibility to enroll in the PCAFC program is being remanded due to insufficient medical opinion supporting the denial of personal care services.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease with old myocardial infarction was granted, and the effective date is set at May 6, 2024.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his claims for service connection of sleep apnea, COPD, and an earlier effective date for a 60% evaluation of asbestosis. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 60% for CAD is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC at the 38 U.S.C. 1114(s) rate are granted with effective dates of January 1, 2017, for TDIU and November 12, 2019, for SMC.

The Board has granted service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease (CAD), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and hypertension, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not caused by his conceded toxic exposure during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC at the housebound rate, finding that he did not meet the criteria for this benefit prior to October 14, 2020 due to lack of a single disability rated at 100% and additional disabilities independently ratable at 60%. The Veteran was also deemed unemployable solely by his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of death due to the Veteran's service-connected cardiac disability, and dismissed the DIC claim as moot.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than October 4, 2024, for the award of service connection for non-obstructive coronary artery disease was denied. The Board found no basis to grant an earlier effective date.

The appeals for service connection and increased rating have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, finding no evidence of herbicide exposure and insufficient medical opinion to establish a link between current heart conditions and service.

An effective date of November 3, 2017, and no earlier, for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease associated with herbicide exposure is granted. A rating in excess of 70 percent on and after February 20, 2020, for PTSD is denied.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) because there was no prior claim or communication from the Veteran regarding a heart condition with surgery in 1989 until his September 2009 claim. The effective date is set at the date the claim was received by VA, which is later than the date the disability arose.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been granted, but the effective dates are determined based on new evidence received after initial decisions. The Veteran is now rated at 100% for congestive heart failure with cardiomyopathy and hypertensive heart disease and arteriosclerotic heart disease as of September 6, 2023.

The Board has found that the Veteran requires personal care services for at least six continuous months based on an inability to perform activities of daily living. The claim is remanded to determine if participation in the PCAFC program would be in the Veteran's best interest.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for hypertension was dismissed due to untimely filing. The Board also remanded the issues regarding compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for kidney failure and congestive heart failure.

The Board denied service connection for heart disability, left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and diabetes mellitus type II due to lack of evidence supporting herbicide exposure in service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for ischemic heart disease, kidney damage, brain tumor, and hypertension as they were not pending at the time of his death.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including prostate cancer residuals, coronary artery disease (CAD), bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy (neuropathy), and diabetes, prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring an addendum VA medical opinion on whether the Veteran's current heart conditions are related to his service, including exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and his MOS as a mechanic.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for asthma. Service connection is granted for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, type 2, both presumed to be caused by exposure to Agent Orange during service.