Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including Type II diabetes mellitus and its complications, have been denied as secondary to his service-connected diabetes. The Board found no evidence of in-service exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disability, wrist disability, heart disability, hypertension, cold injury residuals, jaw injury residuals, and glaucoma were denied as they are not related to service or cannot be presumed due to the passage of time.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine his employability due to service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the appeal is dismissed due to withdrawal of the claim of entitlement to service connection for shingles.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to care for himself and in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting entitlement to special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board found no evidence of a current heart condition or high blood pressure, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for valvular heart disease and granted it, finding that the condition is related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease were denied as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides, the conditions did not manifest within one year after discharge, and there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to service. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is REMANDED.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is due to noise exposure during service and grants service connection. The claim for a heart disorder, heat stroke residuals, and restless leg syndrome are denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or their onset in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death is not attributable to service or any incident of service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of a total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) is January 5, 2006. This decision was made because it was factually ascertainable that entitlement to TDIU arose on this date and occurred within one year prior to the date of claim.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status was denied because he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a skin disability due to new and material evidence. However, the heart disability claim remains denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure or a nexus to service.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and determined that the earliest effective date is June 18, 2008. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction was found to be related to his diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's other claims, including those related to cognitive disorder, headaches, seizure disorder, and heart disorder, are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension was diagnosed during service and is currently present, meeting the criteria for service connection. The heart disability claim will be remanded as it requires further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea and coronary artery disease, both claimed as secondary to his service-connected residuals of a deviated septum, have been granted. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for residuals of a deviated septum is pending.

The Veteran's cause of death was not due to service-connected conditions, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The Board denies the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, both claimed to be due to herbicide exposure. The Board has ordered the RO or AMC to attempt to obtain deck logs from ships that may have been in Vietnamese ports during his service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, conduct necessary examinations, and ensure all development has been completed. The issues include seeking higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss and coronary artery disease, as well as service connection for a lung nodule and hypertension.