Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of coronary artery disease (CAD) and spinal fusion with lumbar stenosis and degenerative arthritis have been granted, effective from June 12, 2014, and May 7, 2018 respectively.,The claim for a higher rating for obstructive sleep apnea has been denied.

The Veteran's hypertension, ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease), diabetes mellitus type 2, and bilateral hearing loss are all granted as they are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service.,Service connection for OSA, an acquired psychiatric disability, and erectile dysfunction is also granted.

The Board denied service connection for Guillain-Barre syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and heart condition as there was no evidence of onset or relationship to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and type II diabetes mellitus were denied as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causative factors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on appeal are being remanded due to procedural errors and the need for further development regarding exposure to herbicide agents, asbestos, and hazardous chemicals. The Board will also obtain medical opinions to determine if the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service duties.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) including pericarditis with hypertension was granted, and the effective date is set at May 2, 2007. The decision also corrected an error in applying VA regulations that resulted in a lower initial rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural errors and a need for further evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease status-post CABG disability, including an exercise stress test.

The Veteran's heart disability, which includes coronary artery disease, arterial fibrillation, supraventricular arrhythmia, acute myocardial infarction, and valvular heart disease, has not been found to meet the criteria for a higher initial rating than 30 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a cardiovascular disorder, finding that there is no direct evidence linking his current conditions to his military service. The medical evidence does not support presumptive service connection based on continuity of symptomatology or due to a chronic disease shown in service.

The Veteran's degenerative changes of the lumbar spine at L3-L5 and S1 are now rated at 40 percent, effective March 19, 2021. The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is now rated at 40 percent, effective March 19, 2021.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is now rated at 40 percent, effective March 19, 2021. Service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, CAD, PTSD, sleep apnea, and headaches are all granted.

The Veteran's death was caused by myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease, which are presumed to be associated with exposure to herbicide agents. The Board is remanding the case to verify whether the Veteran served near the Korean DMZ or was otherwise exposed to herbicide agents while in Korea.

The Veteran's bilateral pulmonary nodules, coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, and aortic aneurysm are all granted service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents. The effective date is not specified as the decision was for initial ratings.

The Veteran's motion to reverse the July 2003 rating decision that denied service connection for PTSD was denied, and entitlement to an effective date prior to July 15, 2013, for the award of service connection for PTSD is denied.,The Veteran's motion to revise the July 2014 rating decision that granted service connection for ischemic heart disease on grounds of CUE was denied, and entitlement to an effective date prior to July 15, 2012, for the award of service connection for ischemic heart disease is denied.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the workload of greater than 7 to 10 METs resulting in breathlessness without evidence of congestive heart failure or cardiac hypertrophy/dilation.

The Board has identified errors in the pre-decisional duty to assist and remanded the cases for additional development related to the Veteran's exposure claims. The service connection claims are being remanded due to these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and CAD have been denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disease or injury in service, and the current conditions are not related to any in-service event.,Service connection for alcohol use disorder has also been denied due to the statutory prohibition on compensation for such disorders resulting from willful misconduct.

The Veteran's right hip disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each, and the Board has determined that higher ratings are not warranted.,Service connection for a heart condition secondary to service-connected PTSD is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected heart disability has been rated at 60% since December 2, 2016. The Board granted a TDIU effective December 2, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for depression associated with tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment.,Service connection for hypertension, a disease deemed presumptively service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam, was granted under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's tinnitus, ischemic heart disease (secondary to herbicide exposure), and hypertension have been granted service connection. The Veteran served in the Republic of Vietnam and is presumed exposed to herbicides there.