Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2014

The Veteran is granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus due to Agent Orange exposure. Service connection for hypertension and heart condition as secondary to type II diabetes mellitus are also granted.

The Board has determined that the earliest effective date for the grant of service connection for hypertension is July 10, 1995. The Veteran's claim was pending and not adjudicated until an April 2010 rating decision granted service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and physical conditions, render him unemployable in light of his educational and occupational history. The Board finds the evidence at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to all service-connected disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia with PTSD contributed to his death, and thus grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. As a result, the DIC claim is moot.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease, finding no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as moot since the appeal for a TDIU after July 10, 2008, is not supported by legal merit. The Veteran was granted TDIU from June 9, 2008 to July 9, 2008.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, prostate cancer, PVD, CAD, and hypertension. The reasons were that there was no evidence of in-country service or documented exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran is entitled to an effective date of May 3, 2010 for the award of TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and left ear hearing loss) prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him. The Board finds that a Total Disability Rating based on Individual Unemployability is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA clinical records and scheduling a VA medical examination to diagnose all disorders of the heart and determine their likely etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and no current disability related to service. The Veteran did not serve in Vietnam or have any confirmed exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for an acute exacerbation of COPD were covered by VA as the treatment was deemed necessary due to a continued medical emergency and not feasible to transfer to a VA facility.

The Board found that there is no credible evidence of rheumatic fever in service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for both rheumatic fever and a heart disorder as secondary to rheumatic fever.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease/ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure was denied as there is no evidence that he filed a formal or informal claim prior to November 30, 2009. The claim was pending when ischemic heart disease was added to the list of presumptive disabilities under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e) for herbicide exposure.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a heart disorder, to include the need for a cardiac defibrillator, on secondary basis to his service-connected bronchiectasis. The Board has determined that he should be afforded a VA examination to determine if any diagnosed heart disorder is related to service or to his service-connected bronchiectasis.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for a supplemental opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension existed prior to his period of active service and if so, whether it was aggravated during that time.

The Board has determined that an effective date of February 26, 1999 is warranted for the grant of service connection and SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to PTSD and diabetes.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and medical inquiry into his diabetes, heart disorder, digestive disorder, neuropathy of the hands and feet, erectile dysfunction (ED), and skin cancer.

The Board has determined that there is no current disability of bronchial asthma, and the Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied.