Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The hearing loss case is remanded as the Veteran testified that his hearing loss has worsened since the last evaluation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and prostate disorder, all of which are secondary to herbicide exposure. The case is remanded for further development including obtaining VA examinations and verifying herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and heart condition, finding that the Veteran's conditions were more likely due to his smoking history rather than service. The Board also denied special monthly pension benefits as the Veteran did not require aid and attendance or meet the criteria for housebound status.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus and its secondary disabilities due to incomplete records, inadequate VA examination, and in-service evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected ischemic heart disease with stable angina is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal regarding whether there was clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in a January 2004 rating decision that reopened and denied his service connection claim for congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and coronary artery disease with coronary artery bypass graft as secondary to bronchitis. The Board also denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, unstable angina, congestive heart failure, supraventricular arrhythmia, and implanted automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator. The appeal was denied as there was no CUE in the January 2004 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), back condition, and right shoulder disability has been reopened. The heart condition claim was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The TDIU claim is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and a heart condition due to new evidence received by the Veteran. The effective dates of compensation for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and persistent depressive disorder remain denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for coronary artery disease and Parkinson’s disease due to a lack of verification of his claimed Vietnam service. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to verify the Veteran's reported TDY service in Vietnam, including by contacting the Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) or other appropriate repositories.

The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to coronary arteriosclerotic heart disease, which the Board found not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing onset in service or within one year post-service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to incomplete examinations, lack of clear and unmistakable evidence regarding preexisting conditions, and need for additional medical opinions. The issues include bilateral gynecomastia, a chest scar related to bilateral gynecomastia, a right shoulder disability, heart disability, hypertension, and TDIU.

The Veteran's service connection claim for ischemic heart disease is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand, which is presumed for Vietnam-era veterans.

The Board denied service connection for pneumonia, diabetes mellitus, peripheral artery disease, coronary artery disease, and stroke.,None of the Veteran's conditions were found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss after December 20, 2012 was denied. The Board also denied the Veteran's request for a 10 percent evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 based on multiple, noncompensable, service-connected disabilities prior to August 31, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disability is related to his service-connected pulmonary embolism, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability and increased rating for PTSD with depression have been denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of direct or presumptive service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, hypertension, and heart disease due to insufficient examination reports that did not consider credible lay statements of record.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for cardiac diastolic dysfunction with mild left ventricular hypertrophy (claimed as ischemic heart disease) has been dismissed.,Multiple increased rating claims, including those for the right shoulder, upper thigh (extension), upper thigh (flexion), and upper thigh (abduction, adduction, and rotation) have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed.,Claims for scars on the neck and arm have also been dismissed.,Multiple earlier effective date claims have been dismissed.,PTSD benefits were awarded effective March 30, 2015, but TDIU was not granted prior to this date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition and melanoma, both of which were not related to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bladder cancer is granted, as supported by a July 2019 opinion linking the condition to his military service. Service connection is also granted for neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities secondary to bladder cancer treatment. The appeal related to increased ratings for PTSD, sleep apnea, CAD scars, and diabetes mellitus remains pending.