Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disease and kidney disease, both secondary to PTSD. The VA examiner's opinions are inadequate as they did not use the correct standard for determining aggravation.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as ischemic heart disease and pneumonia. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure in Thailand, thus denying service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than March 18, 2015 and September 15, 2017 have been dismissed.,An effective date of September 15, 2017 has been assigned for the award of service connection for lung cancer.,A compensable disability rating in excess of 10 percent for CAD prior to September 22, 2017 has been granted.,Beginning September 22, 2017, a rating in excess of 10 percent for CAD has not been met.,New and material evidence having been submitted, the claim of entitlement to service connection for a liver disorder is reopened.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder) has been granted.,The Veteran's claims for stomach ulcers have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety, is related to his service. The issues of gastroesophageal reflux disease and ischemic heart disease have been withdrawn by the Veteran's representative.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus with cataracts and retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, have rendered him unable to work since January 1, 2012. Effective November 21, 2012, the Veteran has been found in need of regular aid and attendance due to his disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea as secondary to his service-connected Ischemic Heart Disease, finding that there is no credible evidence linking OSA to IHD.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder with alcohol use disorder is remanded. The Veteran also has claims for hypertension, heart disease, fatigue, hand disorders, knee disorders, foot disorders, and neurological disorders that are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is remanded as it may be secondary to his service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder with alcohol use disorder or due to in-service herbicide exposure. The Veteran also has claims for heart disease, fatigue, hand disorders, knee disorders, foot disorders, and neurological disorders that are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease is remanded as it may be secondary to his hypertension or due to in-service herbicide exposure. The Veteran also has claims for fatigue, hand disorders, knee disorders, foot disorders, and neurological disorders that are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a disorder manifested by fatigue is remanded as it may be related to his presumed in-service herbicide exposure or due to his service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder with alcohol use disorder. The Veteran also has claims for hand, knee, foot disorders, and neurological disorders that are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hand disorder is remanded as it may be related to his presumed in-service combat injuries or due to his service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder with alcohol use disorder. The Veteran also has claims for knee, foot, and neurological disorders that are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hand disorder is remand as it may be related to his presumed in-service combat injuries or due to his service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder with alcohol use disorder. The Veteran also has claims for knee, foot, and neurological disorders that are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is remanded as it may be related to his presumed in-service combat injuries or due to his service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder with alcohol use disorder. The Veteran also has claims for hand, foot, and neurological disorders that are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder is remand as it may be related to his presumed in-service combat injuries or due to his service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder with alcohol use disorder. The Veteran also has claims for hand, foot, and neurological disorders that are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a disorder manifested by muscle cramps in the left lower extremity is remand as it may be due to his presumed in-service herbicide exposure or due to his service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder with alcohol use disorder. The Veteran also has claims for hand, knee, foot, and neurological disorders that are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a disorder manifested by muscle cramps in the right lower extremity is remand as it may be due to his presumed in-service herbicide exposure or due to his service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder with alcohol use disorder. The Veteran also has claims for hand, knee, foot, and neurological disorders that are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neurological disorder of the left lower extremity is remand as it may be due to his presumed in-service herbicide exposure or due to his service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder with alcohol use disorder. The Veteran also has claims for hand, knee, foot, and neurological disorders that are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neurological disorder of the right lower extremity is remand as it may be due to his presumed in-service herbicide exposure or due to his service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder with alcohol use disorder. The Veteran also has claims for hand, knee, foot, and neurological disorders that are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disorder is remand as it may be related to his presumed in-service combat injuries or due to his service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder with alcohol use disorder. The Veteran also has claims for hand, knee, and neurological disorders that are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of the right foot disorder is remand as it may be related to his presumed in-service combat injuries or due to his service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder with alcohol use disorder. The Veteran also has claims for hand, knee, and neurological disorders that are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected COPD, bilateral hearing loss, and organic heart disease have been granted. The rating for organic heart disease has been increased to 100 percent effective from September 22, 2020.

Service connection for hypertension and heart condition has been granted.,The Veteran's left knee and right leg conditions, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder, remain pending issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a heart disability, finding that it did not incur such condition during active duty or within one year after separation. The heart disability is also not caused by or aggravated by any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including evaluations and opinions regarding the Veteran's TBI, psychiatric disorders, ischemic heart disease, hearing loss, respiratory disorder, prostate disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, and vertigo.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's coronary artery disease, including his in-service symptoms and post-service medical history.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, finding that there is no current diagnosis of ischemic heart disease and that any existing heart condition is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim of a higher initial rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) is being remanded due to incomplete information in the previous medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and heart condition due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's lay testimony will be considered in conjunction with VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to February 13, 2014. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease) due to herbicide exposure during service in Thailand. The case is remanded for a VA examination regarding the relationship between hypertension and herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's initial rating for coronary artery disease is granted at a 60 percent level, effective from the date of the decision. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed as moot due to the Veteran's receipt of a 100 percent disability rating and Special Monthly Compensation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension, heart disorder, BPH, cervical spine degenerative disc disease with cervical muscle spasm, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and spondylosis, bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy, bilateral hip degenerative arthritis, right knee DJD, right ankle condition, vision disability (glaucoma and cataracts), and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and readjudication due to unclear diagnoses and etiology of the Veteran's conditions, including Meniere's disease.