Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction, but denied earlier effective dates for PTSD with alcohol use disorder and hypertension.

The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his death was due to conditions caused by exposure to herbicide agents while serving aboard the U.S.S. Ticonderoga.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and migraine headaches to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Board denied entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for coronary artery disease prior to October 20, 2021, and an evaluation in excess of 60 percent thereafter, with the exception of a period from August 26, 2024, to September 26, 2024, when a separate 100 percent rating for implanted cardiac pacemaker was granted. The Board also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to acute myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities from September 13, 1979, to July 29, 2008, precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a heart disability, as there was no evidence of an intent to file a claim prior to August 7, 2023, and the Nehmer provisions did not apply.

The appellant is eligible for the direct payment of attorney fees from past due benefits awarded in a February 2024 rating decision granting higher ratings for CAD and anxiety.

The Board granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, presuming the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents due to his duties as a mail processing specialist near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The claim for a skin disability was remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and earlier effective dates for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and deviated nasal septum (DNS), dating the claims back to March 1995.

The Board denied entitlement to a disability rating greater than 30 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) prior to April 26, 2016.

The Board granted service connection for valvular heart disease as it is caused by the Veteran's service-connected hypertension.

The Board granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and denied a higher rating for hearing loss. The other claims were remanded.

The Board granted a 100 percent rating for chronic renal disease with nephrolithiasis and hypertension from March 26, 2019, but no earlier.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for multiple myeloma, heart disease, and diabetes mellitus due to insufficient evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression disorder, heart condition, anxiety disorder, right knee pain condition, left knee pain condition, and PTSD due to the Veteran failing to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities of PTSD, CAD, and neuropathy are of sufficient severity to produce unemployability.

The Board granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and remanded the claim for heart disease due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's heart disability, as the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board remands the claim for a heart disability to obtain additional medical evidence regarding its etiology, specifically whether it is related to herbicide exposure or aggravated by service-connected hypertension.