Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder and left knee disorder, finding no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence/aggravation.,Service connection was not established for the skin (rash) disability due to lack of clear evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and for a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability. The issues of an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD since March 1, 2008, and entitlement to TDIU are also being remanded.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.,The effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is set at June 18, 2003, which is the effective date of service connection for residuals of a cerebrovascular accident. The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted in May 2006.,The effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is also set at June 18, 2003.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease, status post infarction and stenting, has not resulted in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness or syncope at a workload of less than 7 METs; nor has the disease resulted in cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation, left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 50 percent or less, nor episodic or chronic congestive heart failure. Therefore, the Veteran's disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not have its onset during his period of active duty service or any period of inactive duty training. The medical evidence indicates that the Veteran's hypertension began in September 1979, which is outside the one-year presumptive period following separation from service. Therefore, service connection for hypertension cannot be granted on a direct basis or as a result of exposure to environmental factors during active duty. Service connection for coronary artery disease has not been established and no medical opinion supports its onset during any period of service.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease status post myocardial infarction, but has denied service connection for arteriosclerosis manifested as peripheral vascular disease and loss of legs due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including clarification of a VA examiner's opinion regarding the cause of his coronary artery disease and hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected rheumatic valvular heart disease did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to December 21, 2010.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease and chronic pulmonary disorder (claimed as bronchitis, emphysema, pneumonia, and spots on the lungs) is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The effective date of this grant is July 9, 2009, the date of diagnosis of lung cancer.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims for service connection for a heart disorder and respiratory disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for cardiac disease and determined that new evidence received since the last denial supports a finding that his current condition is related to his active service, including exposure to ionizing radiation during World War II.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during his service in Vietnam, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found that the evidence did not support an extension of a temporary total disability evaluation beyond March 31, 2007 for convalescence following heart surgery on December 8, 2006. The Veteran's claim for increased rating for coronary artery disease was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date before April 2, 1990, for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease as secondary to service-connected partial thyroidectomy with thyroid replacement and exophthalmia was denied. The Board found that no earlier effective date could be granted due to the abandonment of the original claim after one year.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure, as well as for bilateral below the knee amputations. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further development is needed before a final decision can be made on the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder.

The Veteran's GERD is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to herbicides. However, the current disorder was not linked to his military service and there is no evidence of a link between other claimed conditions and service.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes, hypertension, heart disorder, tinnitus, insomnia, sleep apnea, depression, and GERD were not incurred or aggravated by his active military service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure. The Board finds that he likely went ashore while stationed aboard his ship, thus qualifying for presumptive service connection.