Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, CABG and atrial fibrillation associated with herbicide exposure is granted effective from April 21, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, prostate cancer, coronary artery disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from April 8, 2015.

The Board is remanding all issues for correction of a pre-decisional duty to assist error.,Specifically, the Veteran's service connection claims for tinnitus, left knee disability, right knee disability, right great toe disability, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss are being remanded due to the AOJ not having scheduled examinations or obtaining medical opinions prior to denying these claims.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Coronary Artery Disease due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their onset during military service.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) due to a failure to ensure that the duty to assist was satisfied by notifying and requesting release of relevant private treatment records. The Veteran is asked to provide authorizations for VA to obtain these records from his non-VA cardiologist.

The Veteran's kidney disorder, diagnosed as end-stage renal disease, is related to his in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. His coronary artery disease and hypertension are also linked to this kidney disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his coronary artery disease (CAD) was denied as the evidence did not show that he experienced heart failure symptoms due solely to his CAD at any time over the period on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and stroke disorder, finding that these conditions are proximately caused by the Veteran's service-connected tuberculosis. Service connection was denied for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating and earlier effective date for a 30 percent rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted. The effective date of August 30, 2018, is also granted.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to inadequate examinations and the need for additional medical opinions, including those related to valvular heart disease, keratoconjunctivitis, upper extremity radiculopathy, shoulder pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, a skin condition, shin splints, knee meniscal tear, muscle/tendon strain of the lower leg, and sleep disturbances.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU stems from his November 2018 claim, and the effective date of TDIU is denied as a matter of law due to the finality of prior decisions.

The Veteran's cause of death is presumed to be related to military service under the PACT Act, which became effective August 10, 2022. Service connection for the cause of death is granted as of that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease and hypertension have been granted with effective dates of March 10, 2021. The claim for service connection for hypothyroidism has also been granted but the effective date is contingent on the record reflecting it was due to herbicide exposure.

Service connection is granted for migraines, transient ischemic attack (stroke), hypertension, and coronary artery disease all secondary to service-connected laryngeal cancer residuals with carotid artery stenosis.,The VA examiners provided opinions supporting the Veteran's claims of secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for CAD, diabetes, hypertension, and OSA as secondary to multiple service-connected disabilities, including obesity as an intermediary step. The AOJ is instructed to obtain addendum opinions from a VA examiner regarding TERA exposure, causation, aggravation, and obesity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, which was secondary to his service-connected IHD and DM, has been granted. The appeal is dismissed as the benefits sought have been fully granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a compensable rating for a surgical scar have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The appeal is now closed.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and coronary artery disease did not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to April 2, 2018. The Board denied entitlement to a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's current atrial fibrillation and her active duty service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain medical opinions addressing theories of secondary service connection and obesity as an intermediate step.