Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disability may be related to service, and a remand is required for an addendum opinion regarding its etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to chemical exposure during service, including contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and herbicide agent exposure. The VA is required to obtain medical opinions addressing the possibility of a nexus between his toxic exposure risk activities (i.e., his exposure to contaminated drinking water and other chemicals) and his claimed disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease (CAD) status post PCI based on new evidence received after the initial denial, with effective dates set at April 8, 2021, and April 13, 2021 respectively.

The Veteran's SMC from January 5, 2018, to April 12, 2023, is granted at the rate under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(n) due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as the fact that the Veteran did not appeal the initial rating assigned for PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension under the PACT Act, but has remanded all other issues due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's heart disability, sleep apnea, colon cancer, and COPD are still on appeal.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, heart disability (coronary artery disease), and hypertension are granted as they are presumed to be due to exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided for service connection of atrial fibrillation as secondary to hypertension is inadequate and requires additional opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to duty-to-assist errors and insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributing to his death.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and rating of ingrown toenail has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of all issues.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there is no evidence linking any of the diseases leading to his death to his military service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for heart disease was dismissed because he did not timely file a VA Form 10182 and good cause was not shown.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of February 12, 2021 for the Veteran's Individual Unemployability and Dependents' Educational Assistance claims. The decision is based on continuous pursuit of the claim by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service connection claim for valvular heart disease with aortic insufficiency and mitral valve prolapse was granted effective May 18, 1994.

The Board has dismissed the claim for a TDIU from July 19, 2023 due to the grant of a combined 100 percent rating and special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s). The appeal for a TDIU prior to July 19, 2023 is remanded as it may be eligible for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of entitlement to service connection for ED secondary to service-connected CAD and DM due to a duty-to-assist error. The VA medical opinions obtained were inadequate as they did not address whether the Veteran's ED was caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions, nor did they consider the potential aggravation of ED by herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as he is not entitled to an increased level of SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance, given his current service-connected disabilities and existing levels of SMC.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral cataracts, valvular heart disease (claimed as atherosclerotic heart disease and aortic stenosis) secondary to sarcoidosis, and denied an evaluation more than 30 percent for sarcoidosis with pulmonary, hepatic and lymph node involvement. The Veteran's conditions are not service-connected.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease and coronary artery disease, finding that there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or qualifying exposure to herbicides.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of entitlement to service connection for ED secondary to service-connected CAD and DM due to a duty-to-assist error. The VA medical opinions obtained were inadequate as they did not address whether the Veteran's ED was caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions, nor did they consider the potential aggravation of ED by herbicide exposure.