Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a heart condition, to include hypertension, are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding causation or aggravation by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral glaucoma was denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The Board found that the current diagnosis of bilateral glaucoma is related to service.,Coronary artery disease, claimed as due to chronic fatigue syndrome, was granted as it is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has vacated the previous decisions dismissing claims for service connection for skin conditions, and remanded the claim of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, coronary artery disease (CAD), and diabetes mellitus. The issues are now pending before the Board again.

The Board found that new and relevant evidence did not warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection for a bilateral leg condition, sleep condition, heart condition, or throat cancer.

Effective dates of December 8, 2011 are granted for service connection for diabetes, diabetic peripheral neuropathy in multiple extremities, erectile dysfunction, and renal failure. Effective date of February 19, 2013 is granted for service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease as secondary to herbicide exposure is granted. Claims for colon cancer, throat cancer, skin cancer, liver cancer, lung lesions, and an aortic aneurysm are denied.

The Veteran's TDIU is granted with an effective date of February 19, 2015. This decision finds that the Veteran met the requirements for a TDIU as of this date due to his service-connected PTSD and OSA.

The Veteran's death was caused by ischemic heart disease, which has been granted service connection. However, the appellant did not have a pending claim for diabetes mellitus type II or ischemic heart disease at the time of the Veteran's death, so accrued benefits are denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for his heart conditions was denied. The Board found that December 21, 2023 is the proper date for the award of service connection.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease results in breathlessness and fatigue at a workload of greater than 3.0 but not greater than 5.0 METs, warranting a 60 percent rating for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II caused or contributed to his death. The VA examiner did not consider the Veteran's blood sugar levels on October 22, 2000, which were noted to be high and potentially life-threatening.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, CAD, diabetes, and related neuropathies, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) effective from October 26, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type 2, bilateral leg condition, bilateral foot conditions, and visual impairment (claimed as vision loss), were denied. The Board found no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease disability rating was reduced from 100% to 30%, but the Board found this reduction improper due to inadequate VA examinations and restored the original 100% rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and incomplete opinions regarding service connection for various conditions. The claims will be reconsidered with additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction is remanded due to the need for a VA examination. The effective date for service connection remains March 31, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an examination and insufficient evidence regarding the etiology and pathophysiology of the Veteran's heart condition. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to environmental hazards during his service in the Gulf War.

The Veteran's effective date for a 100% disability evaluation for coronary artery disease is set at July 24, 2014. Prior to this date, his condition did not warrant such a high rating.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for heart condition, lung condition, and left leg puncture due to VA medical care.