Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicides during the Veteran's time in Vietnam. The Veteran was stationed at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines and had TDY orders to Vietnam, where he installed air-ground equipment.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension and an increased rating for ischemic heart disease. The respiratory disability claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including heart disability, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy in various extremities, and a psychiatric disorder. The primary issue is whether these conditions are secondary to his service-connected PTSD or due to herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a heart disorder, right knee disability, and right hip disability. The case for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance is also being remanded.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for CAD was denied prior to November 30, 2012. From November 30, 2012 to August 25, 2017, the Veteran received a 60% disability rating for CAD. After that date, he received a 100% disability rating.

The Board has remanded the cases for further evaluation due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder and his claimed heart disability, hypertension, and diabetes.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, coronary artery disease, and type II diabetes mellitus have been granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Korea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right elbow disorder, coronary artery disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may be related to his active service. However, due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to service, the claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has not made a decision on the service connection claims for hypertension and heart disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relation to active service, specifically presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The claims are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as the evidence did not support a direct link to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting evidence regarding whether the Veteran currently has obstructive sleep apnea. The examiner will be asked to clarify this and provide opinions on whether the service-connected disabilities or medications prescribed for them caused obesity, if obesity was a factor in causing sleep apnea, and what would have happened without the service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus is dismissed. Service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted.

The Veteran's atherosclerotic vascular disease and coronary artery disease are granted as secondary to service-connected hypertension. The effective date for the award of GERD is denied, but an initial compensable rating for GERD is also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for CAD and myocardial infarction, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or to his service-connected major depressive disorder. The claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected MDD was granted with a 50% rating effective July 9, 2019.

The Veteran's post-myocardial infarction coronary artery disease (CAD) is rated at 30 percent effective January 26, 2021. The rating was increased from a previous 10 percent rating.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee disability, heart disability, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy. Service connection for PTSD is remanded due to the need for a retrospective opinion on its onset and etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease and B-cell lymphoma due to insufficient development of evidence. The VA will need to obtain addendum opinions from a VA examiner regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions, specifically whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral arterial disease were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a heart disability and remanded the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to November 20, 2020. Additional development is required.