Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for high blood pressure, heart disorder, and left knee disorder as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss was also denied because the Veteran did not meet the VA criteria for a current diagnosis of hearing loss in that ear.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one is needed for a determination of whether the Veteran's heart condition began during or was caused by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the lack of medical records and bills from Penrose Hospital for treatment from November 2 to November 28, 2012. The Board will make reasonable attempts to obtain these records before making a decision on the merits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II (DM), and a heart condition or chest pain resulting in functional impairment due to inadequate medical opinions provided by VA examiners. The examiners were directed to provide opinions on whether these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated beyond their natural progression by service-connected psychiatric disorder, as well as whether obesity is an intermediate step between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's disability rating for arteriosclerotic heart disease has been restored to 30 percent effective March 1, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disorder, diabetes mellitus, and heart disorder (secondary to diabetes mellitus) due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claims of service connection for heart disease and hypertension can be adjudicated. The case must be remanded to obtain VA medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service-connected migraine syndrome.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service at U-Tapao and thus presumptively entitled to this condition.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings for erectile dysfunction, coronary artery disease, and type II diabetes mellitus as the Veteran's representative withdrew these claims during a hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's mastectomy is not service connected as it was due to gynecomastia, which may be caused by alcohol use. The Board finds the evidence does not support a finding that the mastectomy is related to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,The Veteran has COPD and lung nodules since 2015. The VA examiner found no evidence of hepatic steatosis being confirmed by a physician other than the radiologist, but there was an indication from a January 2015 treatment note that it may be related to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,The Veteran has a heart condition and COPD since 2015. The VA examiner found no evidence of hepatic steatosis being confirmed by a physician other than the radiologist, but there was an indication from a January 2015 treatment note that it may be related to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,The Veteran has lung nodules since 2015. The VA examiner found no evidence of hepatic steatosis being confirmed by a physician other than the radiologist, but there was an indication from a January 2015 treatment note that it may be related to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,The Veteran has hepatic steatosis since 2015. The VA examiner found no evidence of hepatic steatosis being confirmed by a physician other than the radiologist, but there was an indication from a January 2015 treatment note that it may be related to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded for additional development. The Veteran is also seeking a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as service connected.,Coronary artery disease, type II diabetes mellitus, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia are all granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and related conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of total disability due to individual unemployability.

The Board has dismissed all claims as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the claims for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, back condition, and heart disability due to incomplete medical opinions and failure to comply with previous directives.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and erectile dysfunction. The claims of service connection for aortic valve stenosis and coronary artery disease (previously claimed as calcific aortic stenosis with chest pain), headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder including major depressive disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions on secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations. The Veteran's psychiatric claim is also remanded as new evidence suggests a DSM-5 diagnosis may be warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a heart disability should be remanded due to procedural issues, including failure to provide proper notice regarding personal assault stressors for PTSD and insufficient verification of herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran will need to undergo additional examinations and have his claims reviewed based on new evidence.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a lung disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder and PTSD), an alcohol use disorder, a kidney disability, and a heart disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology. The lung disability is presumed related to herbicide exposure. Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II has been granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.