Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for nonservice-connected pension benefits is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding his income and employment during the appeal period from April 16, 2003 to April 12, 2011. The AOJ must assess his level of disability and determine whether he meets the net worth and income requirements for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for coronary artery bypass graft (claimed as ischemic heart disease) was granted, with a 60 percent rating effective April 28, 2016. The Veteran is also entitled to a non-compensable rating for his residual cardiac surgical scar associated with the service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete service treatment records, specifically those from February 2016 indicating they are in 'Oakland'. These records need to be obtained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and valvular heart disease manifested by a heart murmur due to insufficient opinions in previous examinations. The Veteran must be provided with new examinations to address the evidence submitted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran meets the diagnostic criteria for ischemic heart disease and if any diagnosed heart disorder is related to service, including presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right eye disorder, sleep apnea, and heart disorders. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for left hip and right knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease and stomach condition (claimed as GERD and diverticulitis) due to Agent Orange exposure are granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for low back, neck, left knee, and right knee disabilities are remanded due to incomplete personnel records and the need for clarification on the dates of events claimed by the Veteran.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral eye disability is remanded as there are outstanding private treatment records that have not been obtained.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and coronary artery disease (status-post CABG) are remanded due to incomplete personnel records and the need for clarification on the dates of events claimed by the Veteran.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is remanded as there are outstanding VA treatment records that have not been obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and prostate cancer, finding that the Veteran's Thailand service qualifies for the presumption of herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records for the heart disorder and for a VA examination on whether the sinusitis symptoms are related to the service-connected condition. The Veteran is also seeking extraschedular referral for his sinusitis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and ischemic heart disease (IHD) have been reopened, but the Board finds that there is not sufficient evidence to grant these claims.,The Veteran has a current diagnosis of tinnitus related to his active service. However, he does not have a confirmed diagnosis of IHD.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to his service-connected PTSD. The Board has remanded several issues for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and an increased rating for hypertensive heart disease, but granted a compensable rating (10%) for hypertension. The appeal was remanded for further action on other issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, chloracne, and PTSD due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents while stationed at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, and for seeking additional lay evidence from the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for coronary artery disease prior to February 23, 2019 and granted a 100% rating from that date forward. For prostate cancer residuals, the claim was denied as there was no local recurrence or metastasis since radiation treatment concluded in 2007.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for ischemic heart disease and its residuals, as well as his claims for diabetes mellitus, insomnia, a disorder manifested by dizziness, a headache disorder, and peripheral neuropathy. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lung cancer, ischemic heart disease, and diabetes mellitus type II are remanded due to uncertainty about his exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The AOJ must verify if the USS Coral Sea entered inland waterways or territorial sea extending 12 nautical miles from the shores of Vietnam during the Veteran's time on board.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of examination. The Veteran's coronary artery disease and related scars are denied as not being related to active duty service.

The Veteran's cause of death, severe atherosclerotic coronary heart disease with old myocardial infarction and cardiomegaly, is considered presumptive to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam. The Board grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death.