Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for congestive heart disease with cardiomyopathy, left shoulder disorder, and right shoulder disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions to determine if the Veteran's heart condition is related to his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's total disability due to individual unemployability is granted, and his gastrointestinal disorder (including GERD and gastritis) is rated at 30 percent. The latter condition meets the criteria for a 30 percent rating under DC 7346.

The Veteran's cause of death was cardiorespiratory failure due to melanoma. The Board determined that his ischemic heart disease did not substantially or materially contribute to the cause of death, nor did it combine to cause death.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, prostate cancer, and ischemic heart disease (IHD), all presumed to be due to exposure to herbicide agents during the Vietnam era in Thailand.

An increased rating of 60 percent for coronary artery disease is granted from December 6, 2011.,Service connection for a skin condition (fibromatous type changes and keloid) is granted. The Veteran's current disability includes bilateral cataracts and glaucoma secondary to diabetes mellitus.,PTSD claim dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.,Bilateral hearing loss claim dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.,Service connection for bilateral cataracts, bilateral glaucoma, kidney infection, bilateral shoulder pain, bilateral knee pain, bilateral ankle pain, obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and lower back pain is remanded. Service connection for sciatica is also remanded.,An increased rating for diabetes mellitus secondary to cataracts and glaucoma is remanded.,Service connection for kidney infection is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral shoulder pain is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral knee pain is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral ankle pain is remanded.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is remanded.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is remanded.,Service connection for lower back pain is remanded.,Service connection for sciatica is remanded.

The Veteran's heart disabilities, including supraventricular arrhythmia, ventricular arrhythmia, valvular heart disease, heart valve replacement, cardiomyopathy, implanted cardiac pacemaker, and aortic aneurysm, are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for clarification on their etiology.

The Veteran's CAD was granted a 60 percent disability rating prior to November 25, 2019 and a 100 percent disability rating since November 25, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of death due to service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD), which is considered a direct link without any presumption or secondary basis. The Veteran's CHF and hypertensive heart disease are found to be related to his CAD.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of referred issues and will provide another opportunity for the Veteran to submit information. The TDIU claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has already granted service connection for hypertension, so the current appeal is moot.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's scar, status-post coronary artery bypass surgery. The issue of increasing the rating for service-connected coronary artery disease is remanded due to incomplete appellate consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete verification of in-service stressors and insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the acquired psychiatric disorder. The diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and upper extremities are also being remanded as they may be related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's atherosclerotic heart disease, presumed to be related to his service in Korea due to exposure to herbicide agents, is considered a contributory cause of death. The claim for service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Veteran's CAD is presumed to be related to his in-service herbicide agent exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an addendum medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's COPD is aggravated by his service-connected IHD, atrial fibrillation, and SSS.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, which is presumed due to herbicide exposure, has been granted.,However, the Veteran's claim for residuals of malaria has been denied as he no longer experiences symptoms.

The Board has found that service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is denied. The Veteran's left hip condition, impairment of the knee (left knee condition), and heart condition are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II; heart disease; low grade transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder; left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy; right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy; left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy; and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The AOJ is required to conduct development regarding herbicide agent exposure, obtain SSA records, and provide medical opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, scars status post heart surgery, lung pleural effusion, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression with sleep problems and PTSD) are granted. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.