Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Veteran's sleep apnea and coronary artery disease are granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The claim for hypertension is reopened.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of her medical records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for COPD, bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a stroke, and heart disability are granted. The claim for COPD is granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act due to exposure in Southwest Asia. Claims for residuals of a stroke and heart disability remain pending as they may be granted on direct or other bases.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is currently rated at 60 percent, effective August 4, 2022. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted prior to this date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for memory loss is denied as the evidence does not support a separate rating.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, degenerative arthritis of the spine with spinal fusion (back disability), and restless leg syndrome are remanded due to insufficient development or evaluation.,Service connection was granted for these conditions but the effective dates were not established. The Board finds that additional development is needed.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone render him bedridden or require regular aid and assistance at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance was granted effective May 6, 2019. The Board found that it is not factually ascertainable earlier than this date that the Veteran was in need of aid and attendance due solely to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) is denied as the evidence does not show that his condition results in more than one episode of acute congestive heart failure or a workload capacity of greater than 5.0 METs but not greater than 7.0 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, but remanded the issues of service connection for granulomatous disease and coronary artery disease due to lack of compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's cerebrovascular accident with right side hemiplegia is found to be at least as likely as not secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease. Effective September 16, 2011, the Veteran's TDIU claim based on PTSD alone is granted. SMC at the statutory housebound rate effective November 1, 2022 is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address whether the Veteran's vertigo is aggravated by his service-connected cardiac disorders and to obtain an addendum opinion regarding this matter.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease did not result in workload of 3 metabolic equivalents (METs) or less resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness or syncope; chronic congestive heart failure; or left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 30 percent prior to November 22, 2022. As a result, the Veteran's claim for a higher rating was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for alcohol abuse, coronary artery disease, and anxiety disorder. The VA examiners found that these conditions were not related to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The appeal is remanded due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents, which is necessary for determining service connection based on Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a 100 percent rating for coronary artery disease is granted, effective January 4, 2024. Additionally, the Veteran is awarded special monthly compensation at the housebound rate from March 17, 2011.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for diabetes mellitus type 2, heart disorder, respiratory disorder (asthma), and neuropathy of the lower extremity due to unclear medical opinions and potential need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of evidence, particularly regarding the Veteran's employment status and service treatment records. The Regional Office is instructed to obtain all relevant information and provide a comprehensive examination to assess the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete verification of his claimed Vietnam service and potential exposure to herbicides. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran's reported service in Vietnam, as well as any possible exposure to commercial herbicides sprayed along the flight line during his deployment.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability has aggravated his pre-existing coronary artery disease, resulting in a current heart condition. Service connection is granted for this aggravation.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied for the period prior to August 10, 2022. For the period from August 10, 2022, his combined rating of 100% due to multiple service-connected disabilities rendered him eligible for SMC under a separate TDIU determination.