Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and ischemic heart disease, secondary to herbicide exposure in Korea, are being remanded due to the need to verify if he was exposed to Agent Orange during his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA physician's opinion on whether service-connected disabilities contributed to the Veteran's death and whether DIC is warranted under certain provisions. The appellant must take no action unless notified otherwise.

The Board granted service connection for ischemic heart disease effective January 1, 2011. The Veteran's claim was received in July 1999 and the disability arose after May 3, 1989, thus the effective date is set at January 1, 2011.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis related to active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a heart disorder, to include as secondary to hypertension, was denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss disability under VA standards and did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of hearing loss. For his heart disorder, the evidence showed coronary atherosclerosis and congestive heart failure but no service connection could be established due to lack of continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's appeal involves two issues: (1) seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease, and (2) seeking an earlier effective date for a TDIU rating. The case is being remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's chronic cardiovascular disorder, including coronary artery disease (CAD), and chronic heart disorder, including atrial fibrillation, were not incurred during active service. The VA examiner found no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year post-service.,VA examination also determined that the Veteran's left leg nerve damage is not related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the nature and severity of his coronary artery calcifications and any other heart disorders. The RO will also consider all relevant evidence added during this process.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a seizure disorder, an eye disability, and a heart disability. The neck disability was found not to be related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease, a disability manifested by numbness and pain of the upper and lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction have all been denied.,Further examination is needed to determine if service connection can be granted for erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including heart disability (enlargement), lumbar spine disability, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, otitis, kidney enlargement, and dizziness were denied. The appeal is dismissed as the evidence does not meet the criteria for reopening the previously denied claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2, hypertension, and heart condition (congestive heart failure) are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for organic heart disease due to herbicide exposure has been dismissed as the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by glioblastoma, with CAD contributing substantially to his demise. Given the Veteran's service in Vietnam and presumptive exposure to herbicides, the Board grants service connection for cause of death due to exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for ischemic heart disease and granted it, finding that the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam and Thailand. The condition is presumed to be caused by this exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus had onset during service and the Board finds that it was incurred in active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since July 14, 2009.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease was granted service connection effective March 29, 2007. His initial total disability evaluation based on heart surgery is extended to May 27, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and all issues on appeal have been dismissed.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of entitlement to service connection for ischemic heart disease and hypertension, finding no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence linking any current diagnoses to service.