Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing, special home adaptation assistance, or financial assistance in purchasing an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) is related to his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and determined that new evidence supports this reopening. The Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions, including back, knee, foot, elbow, hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type 2, heart disease, or psychiatric disorders, that were incurred in or aggravated by his service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral eye disability and heart disability have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury related to these conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a heart disorder in service and concluded that the current condition is not related to military service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's death was caused by underlying heart conditions, but these were not service-connected. The Board found that the cause of death was not due to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lipoma, previously claimed as body tumors, is granted. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at zero percent.

The Veteran's left ACL reconstruction and recurrent left knee strain have been granted service connection with initial ratings of 10 percent each, effective February 9, 2009. A separate noncompensable evaluation has also been assigned for left knee numbness.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of this claim as he is no longer alive.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, skin cancer, coronary artery disease, bilateral peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, kidney condition, hypertension, and tinnitus. The decisions were based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to May 9, 2011 is being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence regarding his employability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities, including potential service connection based on exposure to herbicides or asbestos.

The Veteran withdrew all appeals prior to the Board's decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, arteriosclerotic heart disease, and PTSD due to herbicide exposure during his active duty in Thailand. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is currently rated at 10 percent, which reflects the actual degree of impairment since the grant of service connection. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it fails to demonstrate a workload greater than 7 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness or syncope.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease was denied in June 1998, and no communication expressing intent to reopen the claim prior to October 19, 2006, has been found. As a result, an earlier effective date is not warranted.

The Board found no credible evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service in Vietnam or exposure to herbicides, thus denying service connection for heart disease and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy based on presumptive exposure. The claim was denied as direct service connection could not be established.

The Veteran is seeking an increased initial disability rating for coronary artery disease, which was previously granted with a 20 percent disability rating. The issue remains on appeal as the Veteran asserts that his prescribed CAD medications cause symptoms of fatigue and respiratory problems.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no current evidence of a disability or symptoms related to the claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to service connection and increased ratings for CAD.