Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Veteran's current diagnosis of coronary artery disease is presumed related to his in-service herbicide agent exposure during his active military service at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment since June 2014.,The Board finds that the combination of multiple disabilities, including sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, and lumbar condition with radiculopathy, has prevented the Veteran from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 31, 2019 for the award of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance. The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran required permanent assistance from his granddaughter due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability as secondary to service-connected neck disability and denied service connection for a heart disability due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's heart disabilities, including atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, implanted cardiac pacemaker, valvular heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, and atrial fibrillation associated with herbicide exposure, are granted an initial evaluation of 60 percent. The effective date is not established as the claim was filed after August 18, 2022.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for ischemic heart disease is granted from May 23, 2024. The claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus type II is denied.

The Board denied the appellant's appeal, finding that his character of discharge from active military service is a bar to VA benefits. The appeals for service connection for Ischemic Heart Disease and Hypertension were also denied as they are considered direct determinations based on the facts known at the time.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease status post 4 vein CABG is rated at 30 percent effective January 5, 2022. A higher rating of 60 percent for this condition is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD, anxiety, depression, coronary artery disease secondary to psychiatric disability, chronic right ankle pain, chronic left ankle pain, and chronic right knee pain as there is no current evidence of a diagnosed condition.,The Veteran's claims were based on his belief that he developed these conditions during active duty. However, the Board found insufficient medical evidence to support this claim.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than July 27, 2021, for a total disability rating for coronary artery disease status post myocardial infarction is dismissed due to claims processing defects.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than July 27, 2021, for basic eligibility for DEA benefits is dismissed as moot.

The Board found that the grants of service connection for TBI to include PTSD and vertigo, as well as post traumatic headaches (migraines), were clearly and unmistakably erroneous due to the Veteran's willful misconduct during military service. The appeal is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for sleep apnea and heart disorder due to insufficient medical opinions addressing whether the Veteran's right knee disability caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn could have caused his sleep apnea and/or heart disorder.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremities disability, including radiculopathy and neuropathy, is being remanded for further examination to determine its etiology.,The restoration of the 60 percent initial rating for the Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD) remains granted.,TDIU based on service-connected disabilities prior to November 4, 2020, is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, type II diabetes mellitus, and hypertension are granted as these conditions are presumed to be associated with exposure to Agent Orange during his service at or near the Korean DMZ.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a heart condition and prostate cancer, finding no evidence to support these conditions were caused by toxic exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has found that additional evidence is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service. The cases are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for direct payment of fees from a past-due benefits decision has been withdrawn by the appellant, leading to its dismissal.

The Board has denied service connection for coronary artery disease and prostate cancer, but has remanded the claim for a left shoulder disorder due to lack of evidence.

The Board has found that the Veteran requires personal care services for a minimum of six continuous months based on need for supervision, protection, or instruction. The appeal is remanded to determine if the Veteran is eligible for Family Caregiver benefits under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as there was no prior claim or reasonable inference of the need for TDIU before February 2020. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of employment in a protected work environment.