Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for a back disorder, heart disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to additional medical inquiry and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus, ischemic heart disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during service.,Service connection is denied for all four conditions as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link between any diagnosed condition and service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, posttraumatic stress disorder, Parkinson's Disease, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. As such, the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The appeal is dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no longer has jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for service-connected ischemic heart disease status post myocardial infarction was increased from 10% to 30%, but the issue remains in appellate status due to a remand. The Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of his condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and an acquired psychiatric disability due to lack of evidence regarding exposure to Agent Orange. The Veteran's heart disability is related to his service, but the issue will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened and granted. The Board also remanded several other issues including heart disorder, erectile dysfunction, skin rash of the face, arms, and feet, unspecified brain disorder, and prostate disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and its impact on his ability to work.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to alcohol dependence, which was secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Veteran died from metastatic gastric cancer.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease is denied. The Board finds that the Veteran's July 13, 1988 claim was not covered by the provisions of VA regulations due to his failure to file a timely appeal within one year of his discharge from service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of the appellant's claim regarding the cause of her husband's death and a pending increased rating appeal for his back disability. The VA is instructed to provide an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran’s pain from service-connected disabilities contributed to or aggravated his high blood pressure, which in turn caused his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Ischemic Heart Disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and Type II Diabetes Mellitus have been granted. The claim for service connection for COPD is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for coronary artery disease and scar due to coronary artery bypass, as there are incomplete examinations that need to be conducted.

The Veteran's death was not due to willful misconduct, but he did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 as his service-connected disabilities were not rated at 100% disabling for a period of 10 or more years prior to his death and he was not in receipt of compensation due to one of the reasons listed in 38 C.F.R. § 3.22(b). The cause of death is remanded, as well as the DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 claim.

The Veteran's CAD status post CABG is now rated at 100% effective June 18, 2018. Prior to this date, the condition was rated at 30%. The increase in rating reflects a significant improvement in symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for coronary artery disease and erectile dysfunction due to insufficient medical opinions addressing whether these conditions are caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, coronary artery disease (now claimed as ischemic heart disease), Parkinson’s disease, constipation, difficulty chewing/swallowing, loss of automatic movement, loss of sense of smell, sexual dysfunction, speech impairment, stooped posture, tremors, muscle rigidity, and stiffness of the extremities have been granted. The effective dates for these grants vary based on when the claims were filed or when entitlement arose.

The Board has determined that the VA examination for heart conditions was not adequate and requires an addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's heart condition is related to his service in Southwest Asia. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease associated with herbicide exposure was denied because the claim was not filed within one year of his August 20, 2013 informal claim. The effective date is set at March 31, 2014.