Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2011

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right leg injury, hypertension and heart disease, dental trauma, back disorder, and stomach disorder. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been presented to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange. The Board granted the claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's non-ischemic heart disease, bilateral knee and hip arthritis, bilateral shoulder arthritis, and lumbosacral spine arthritis are not related to his active service or presumed in-service herbicide exposure. As a result, these claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is presumed to be due to his in-service herbicide exposure. His osteomyelitis and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran's hypertension is not service connected as it does not meet the presumptive criteria for diseases associated with herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected left arm condition is not productive of limitation of motion to midway between the side and shoulder level or at the shoulder level, even taking into account repetitive motion testing and his complaints of pain.,The Veteran's service-connected left knee condition is not productive of flexion limited to 45 degrees or less nor extension limited to 10 degrees or more, even taking into account repetitive motion testing and his complaints of pain. The Veteran's left knee instability is only slight.,The Veteran's service-connected right knee condition does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation as it is productive of no more than slight instability.,The Veteran's service-connected CAD is not productive of a workload of greater than 5 METs but not greater than 7 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope, or evidence of cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation on electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, or X-ray.,The Veteran's service-connected left carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome with ulnar neuropathy is productive of no more than moderate incomplete paralysis of the ulnar nerve.,The Veteran's service-connected right carpal tunnel syndrome does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation as it is only mild incomplete paralysis of the median nerve.,The Veteran's service-connected arthritis of the right hand does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation as there are no more than noncompensable limitations in range of motion of the right wrist and each finger on the right hand, with no evidence of incapacitating exacerbations.,The Veteran's service-connected GERD is not productive of diastolic pressure predominantly less than 100 or systolic pressure predominantly less than 160.

The Board has restored service connection for CAD (with hypertension and residuals of a myocardial infarction and residuals of coronary artery bypass grafting), Peripheral Vascular Disease with peripheral neuropathy of each lower extremity, and Erectile Dysfunction.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and coronary artery disease are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) based on the presumption of exposure to herbicides in Vietnam, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety disorder, autoimmune disability, sleep apnea disability, and heart disability. The evidence does not support a finding of current diagnoses or a relationship to service.

The Board denied service connection for seizures, chronic low back disorder, heart disorder, and ulcerative colitis. The Veteran's claims were based on his assertions of in-service jeep accidents and exposure to Agent Orange, but the evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted as it falls under the presumptive provisions due to his Vietnam-era exposure.

The Veteran's heart disease and high cholesterol are related to his service in Vietnam, as ischemic heart disease has been added to the list of diseases associated with herbicide exposure. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his conditions are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active duty military service.

The Veteran's organic heart disease, as of August 1, 2006, is rated at 60 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 7005.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected coronary atherosclerosis with coronary artery disease and status post cardiac pacemaker implant remains in appellate status. The Board has ordered remand to obtain updated medical records and conduct a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease is caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension, granting the claim for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and tinea pedis are all granted as they meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the left wrist disorder, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. The Board dismissed these issues as withdrawn by the Veteran. For gastroesophageal reflux disease with esophagus stricture, the evidence does not support a finding that it is related to military service or radiation exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, which is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, has been remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the hypertension is caused by or aggravated by the coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, with a 30 percent disability evaluation for PTSD. Service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension were also granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in the Republic of Vietnam. However, service connection for BPH was withdrawn by the Veteran.