Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, obstructive sleep apnea, and coronary artery disease due to insufficient medical opinions provided by the VA examiner. The Veteran is requested to provide additional evidence and authorize VA to obtain relevant private records.

The Veteran's prostate condition, ischemic heart disease (IHD), diabetes mellitus, COPD, and bilateral eye condition are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's CAD is rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that a higher rating was not warranted due to lack of evidence showing left ventricular dysfunction or workload less than 5 METs.,The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for TDIU based on his combined rating of 80 percent. The Board finds that he is unemployable due to service-connected PTSD, lung cancer residuals, CAD, and tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and insufficient medical opinion to support a nexus between current heart conditions and active service.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability and prostate cancer, finding no in-service event or injury linking the conditions to the Veteran's service. The claim was also not based on presumptive exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied service connection for a heart condition and diabetes mellitus, type II as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's cause of death is due to respiratory failure, bilateral pleural effusion, severe congestive heart failure, and cardiomyopathy. The appellant contends that the Veteran’s service-connected PTSD and depressive disorder NOS caused or contributed to his fatal heart disease. The Board finds a remand necessary for an opinion on whether the service-connected conditions were principal or contributory causes of death.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and rating determinations. The Veteran's death certificate noted that his cause of death was related to Parkinson’s disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and TDIU prior to September 27, 2011 due to incomplete VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension and an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for adjustment disorder. The Veteran did not timely file a Notice of Disagreement with the July 2009 denial of service connection for hypertension, and his claim for an increased rating for adjustment disorder was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, to include as secondary to service-connected hypertension or medication for hypertension is reopened. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been submitted. However, the claims are still remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to outstanding private treatment records and additional development of asbestos exposure during service.

The Veteran's service connection for a back disability is granted, and he is also granted a 100 percent rating for CAD from June 19, 2017. The issues of ratings in excess of 30 percent for CAD prior to June 19, 2017, and PTSD are remanded. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for CAD was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a 60% or higher rating under the old VA rating criteria prior to April 14, 1995.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of other disabilities due to herbicide exposure was received on May 31, 2006. The effective date of May 31, 2006, was assigned based on the fact that this was the date when the Veteran’s claim for service connection of other disabilities was received. This led to the receipt of the first medical evidence showing the Veteran with coronary artery disease.

The Veteran was granted service connection for prostate cancer, coronary artery disease (CAD), type II diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction (ED) secondary to prostate cancer, and residuals of a stroke secondary to type II diabetes mellitus.,Service connection for the cause of death is also granted.

The Board has denied service connection for a heart disorder (claimed as ischemic heart disease) and hypertension due to in-service exposure to herbicides. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, migraine headaches, sleep apnea, tinnitus, cervical spine injury, lumbar spine condition, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, heart condition, prostate condition, left foot condition, right foot condition, and seizure disorder. The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is granted.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's rating for coronary artery disease from 60 to 30 percent, effective March 1, 2018, was proper based on sustained improvement in the disability as shown by VA and private medical records.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) was denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to CAD was denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for cerebrovascular accident (CVA) as secondary to CAD was granted.