Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2026

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition (congestive heart failure), hypertension, and shortness of breath. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and he did not have the required wartime service for pension benefits.

The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn the appeal for service connection for hypertensive heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and CAD due to insufficient medical opinions in the March 2025 rating decision. The Veteran's service connection claims are being remanded to obtain adequate VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. Service connection for diabetes, chronic renal insufficiency, fibromyalgia, heart condition, thyroid disorder, primary optic atrophy of the bilateral eyes, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to her active duty service.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection of a right knee disability and hypertensive vascular disease (hypertension). The heart disability claim is remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC for housebound status are granted based on service-connected PTSD from October 12, 2023, and CAD from October 1, 2022. The appeals were granted due to the severity of these conditions preventing the Veteran from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension, chronic kidney disease, CAD, diabetes, and obstructive sleep apnea due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran contends that his conditions are related to in-service exposure to diesel fuel exhaust.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for his TDIU and SMC awards, but the Board finds no evidence of a factual increase in disability within one year prior to the claim.,SMC is awarded based on the Veteran's single service-connected disability (heart disability) rated at 100% disabling.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him helpless or so nearly helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, thus SMC based on aid and attendance is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the lack of development related to Agent Orange exposure and solvent/asbestos exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple myeloma, diabetes mellitus II, and coronary artery disease (CAD) based on the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) as there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's application for PCAFC eligibility was remanded due to a lack of proper notification and assessment. The Board found the Veteran meets the criteria for serious injury under VA regulations.

The appeal concerning the issues regarding coronary artery disease, total disability due to individual unemployability, and special monthly compensation is dismissed because the January 2025 rating decision was a purely ministerial implementation of the December 2024 Board decision.

The Veteran's hypertension rating was reduced from 20% to 10%, effective June 9, 2023. Ratings for hypertension prior to and after this date were denied.,The reduction of the separate 30% rating for hypothyroidism to a combined 10% rating with xerosis cutis was granted. The Veteran's PTSD rating was granted at 70%.,Ratings for CAD, aortic stenosis, diastolic dysfunction, and left atrium dilation were denied.,The Veteran's hearing loss was denied a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam. The claims are based on presumptive service connection.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease as there was no evidence of herbicide exposure and the Veteran's condition is not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a heart disability, claiming chest pains. The May 1997 rating decision found that new and material evidence was not submitted within the required timeframe.

The Board has remanded the cases of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for OSA and entitlement to service connection for CAD due to a lack of proper consideration of the Veteran's claims.