Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, including whether it is related to service or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus. The claims are now remanded to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, and hypertension are presumed to be associated with herbicide agent exposure during service.,Service connection is granted for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, hemorrhoids, headaches, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine condition). The rating of 10 percent disability is assigned for these conditions. Service connection for hypertensive heart disease was denied due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee pain, left knee strain, and atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is not secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability.,The Veteran's vision disability is not secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability and/or claimed diabetes mellitus, type II.,The Veteran's heart condition is not secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability and/or claimed diabetes mellitus, type II.,The Veteran's vertigo is not a stand-alone disability and is not secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability and/or claimed diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity foot was withdrawn. Service connection is granted for hypertension and a heart condition (mild aortic valve regurgitation, 1st degree AV block, and sinus bradycardia) due to in-service Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's hypertension and prostate cancer are granted as service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during active duty.,Service connection for abnormal glucose/type II diabetes, colon polyps, heart condition, lower extremity radiculopathy/neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are granted for tinnitus and hypertension, but denied for a heart disability and kidney disability. The case is remanded to determine the appropriate effective date and to address the Veteran's claim for a kidney disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service at U-Tapao Airfield in Thailand.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance of another person from October 26, 2017 through March 11, 2019 due to his inability to perform daily activities.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease was not incurred or aggravated by service, including exposure to herbicides in the Philippines. The Board denied service connection as there is no evidence of actual or presumed exposure to herbicides during service.

An effective date of May 5, 2020 is granted for service connection of coronary artery disease. A rating in excess of 100 percent for the condition is denied.

The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of January 22, 2019, for a 60 percent disability rating for CAD with bypass graft surgery.,The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of October 25, 2019, for total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of October 25, 2019, for basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance based on permanent and total disability status.

The Veteran's service-connected medication use at least as likely as not caused his death or contributed substantially to it. The Board granted service connection for the cause of death and denied DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Veteran's hypertension with hypertensive heart disease is granted as presumptively related to his service in Thailand, and the PACT Act of 2022 applies. The COPD is denied due to lack of a current diagnosis or causal link to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete adjudication of claims for service connection and accrued benefits, as well as issues related to substitution of claimant. Additional development is needed to complete these matters.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities as due to herbicide exposure. The claims were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fatigue is denied as his symptoms are attributed to an already service-connected psychiatric disorder.,For the entire rating period on appeal, the Veteran's CAD did not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating based on workload of greater than 5 METs but not greater than 7 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to address the etiology of Bell's palsy, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and service connection for valvular heart disease.