Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, coronary artery disease, and hypertension due to inadequate opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the right hand, foot, and leg due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The claims are being remanded to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Korea.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy affecting both upper and lower extremities as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, Type II.,Service connection was also granted for non-ischemic heart disease (including congestive heart failure, ventricular arrhythmia, and cardiomyopathy), hypertension, and chronic kidney disease (secondary to service-connected hypertension).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease, status post myocardial infarction, postoperative has been reopened. The case is remanded due to the need for an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of his heart condition.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection and a compensable rating for the listed conditions, effectively dismissing them.

The Board has determined that the VA contract examiner's opinions are inadequate and internally inconsistent, necessitating further examination and opinion to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further investigation into the Veteran's claimed exposures and service history.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disorders and heart disorder due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents, as well as secondary to service-connected PTSD and/or hypertension. The claims are being returned for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, finding that the Veteran's long-term smoking habit and exposure to asbestos during military service are at least in approximate balance as a nexus between his condition and service. The other claims of service connection were denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to incomplete or inadequate VA examination findings. The Board requires additional examinations and opinions to address the contradictory evidence regarding the severity of his headaches and heart disabilities, as well as the relationship between his OSA and his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational background from October 1, 2014 to November 18, 2015.

The Veteran's diabetes and coronary artery disease are due to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities is secondary to his service-connected diabetes. The left ankle arthritis is also secondary to his service-connected fracture left distal tibia and fibula.,Service connection for diabetes, CAD, left ankle arthritis, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy has been granted.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease status post myocardial infarction and coronary artery bypass graft. The Board finds that remand is necessary to consider whether his prior cardiovascular claim reasonably encompassed an informal claim for CAD.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.,Service connection for gout was also denied, with no evidence of its onset during service or within a presumptive period.

The Veteran's skin disorder and heart disorder claims are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran needs a VA examination for his skin disorder claim, and all relevant treatment records should be obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have caused him to lose the use of both feet, qualifying him for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for ischemic heart disease are being remanded due to the need to obtain SSA records and other relevant evidence.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for vertigo, TDIU, and Dependents' Educational Assistance were denied as there was no evidence of an increase in disability during the one year prior to his claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in representation and incomplete development of the Veteran's exposure to herbicides. The heart disability is being reviewed for service connection, with a focus on whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.