Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's shoulder and back disabilities, as well as his heart disability. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's heart condition was caused or aggravated by his service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

The Board denied a higher initial rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) prior to December 20, 2019. However, beginning May 3, 2019, the Veteran was granted a separate 10 percent rating for atrial fibrillation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depression), eye disorders, shortness of breath, hypertension, kidney disorder, heart disorder, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, are all denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for an increased rating for ischemic heart disease, an earlier effective date for the award of an increased rating for ischemic heart disease, and service connection for pancreatic cancer have been dismissed due to his request to withdraw these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease with atrial fibrillation, finding that it is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death due to hypertensive cardiovascular disease, finding no evidence of ischemic heart disease and noting that hypertension is not a presumptive condition related to Agent Orange exposure. The Board also found no evidence linking the Veteran's death to service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's heart disorder. The claim for service connection for a left great toe disorder is denied as new and material evidence was not received.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a brain tumor is remanded due to the need for an opinion on whether his pituitary microadenoma is related to herbicide exposure in Thailand. The Board will consider this evidence and make a decision based on the new information.

The Board has restored the Veteran's disability rating for her service-connected hypertensive heart disease from a reduced 60% to its original 60%. The reduction was found to be improper due to inadequate examination and procedural issues.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims and rating determinations due to an inability to obtain certain medical records from Saints Mary & Elizabeth Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence suggesting possible exposure to herbicides during service, which could potentially establish presumptive service connection. The Veteran's service in the USS Platte is under review to determine if he was within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 50 percent from March 16, 2012 to September 12, 2014 and denied for a higher rating.,The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is currently rated at 30 percent since September 12, 2014 and denied for a higher rating.,The Veteran is not entitled to TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for such.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infraction and mitral valve replacement (also claimed as heart condition) as secondary to medications taken for his service-connected seizure disorder.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection due to an erroneous report of his death.,The issues of service connection for PTSD, asbestosis, adjustment disorder, hypertension, bilateral eye disorder (including cataracts, arcus senilis, pinguecula, and refractive error), coronary artery disease, and dizziness are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease, left ear hearing loss disability, and right ear hearing loss disability. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for vitamin D deficiency, hoarseness, pleuritic chest pain (to include as secondary to a service-connected disability), heart condition (to include congestive heart failure) and to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, hypertension, sleep apnea, digestive disorder (excluding IBS) and to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, left foot neuropathy, right foot neuropathy, left shoulder degenerative joint disease, neck condition, chronic fatigue syndrome, restless leg syndrome, gout, right kidney cyst, urinary incontinence, migraine headaches, and otitis media are all remanded for further development.,The Veteran has not been diagnosed with a current heart condition. An additional VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any potential heart condition.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease.,For the period prior to September 16, 2019, the Veteran’s coronary artery disease was rated at 30 percent and has been increased to 60 percent.,Starting from September 16, 2019, the Veteran's coronary artery disease is rated at 60 percent.,The Veteran's hypertension remains denied as there is no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or secondary service connection to PTSD or diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's GERD has been granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and/or diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD) requires continuous medication, but does not show evidence of cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation on x-ray, electro-cardiogram (EKG), or echocardiogram. As a result, the Veteran is denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for CAD.