Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2015

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for ischemic heart disease was granted, with a disability rating of 10 percent effective April 18, 2008. The decision also noted that the Veteran had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery in 1996 and had been diagnosed with IHD since then.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of April 11, 2001 for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease, ischemic heart disease with stents. The appeal is pending regarding a higher initial rating for this condition.

The Veteran's current coronary artery disease is presumed to have resulted from his exposure to herbicides during service in the Republic of Vietnam, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's cataracts, enlarged lymph nodes along the trachea, heart disability, abdominal aortic aneurysm, peripheral vascular disease and residuals of thyroid cancer are not related to his service or exposure to asbestos.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's ED is at least as likely as not caused by medication prescribed for his service-connected CAD, and thus grants service connection for ED secondary to CAD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current heart disability and therefore, service connection for a heart condition to include as secondary to service-connected exercised induced asthma is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (coronary artery disease, diabetes, small fiber diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities associated with diabetes, hypertension associated with diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities associated with diabetes, and erectile dysfunction) were rated 80 percent combined and shared a common etiology. They are shown to have rendered him incapable of maintaining regular substantially gainful employment.

The Board granted higher initial ratings for PTSD and right elbow disorder, but denied service connection for ischemic heart disease due to Agent Orange exposure. The appeal was reopened on new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, including mitral valve prolapse, an old myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease (CAD), is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected right thumb disability does not present an exceptional or unusual disability picture with related factors such as marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization, and thus did not warrant a referral for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected conditions, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and diabetes mellitus. The Board has declined jurisdiction over the TDIU issue as it was not properly appealed at the time of the October 2014 decision. The Veteran's appeal is for increased evaluations for his service-connected conditions and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits prior to March 20, 2014.

The Veteran's lung disorder and heart disability (other than coronary artery disease) claims have been denied. The lung disorder claim is based on direct service connection, while the heart disability claim remains pending as it may be related to a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for a heart condition, also claimed as atherosclerotic heart disease, myocardial infarction and coronary insufficiency.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was granted service connection effective April 24, 2008. The RO found new and material evidence to reopen his PTSD claim in May 2014, which led to the grant of service connection for an anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development to assess his functional impairment due to service-connected disabilities and determine if he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, coronary artery/ischemic heart disease, a skin condition, and a thyroid disorder related to herbicide exposure were denied as there is no evidence of such conditions during service or within the presumptive period. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection on any basis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records, examinations, and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's heart disability (coronary artery disease) is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active duty.,There is no current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's GAD is currently rated at 70 percent prior to September 11, 2014 and will be reassessed after that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current heart disease and knee disabilities are not related to service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records and inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's heart disorder and headache claims are being reviewed again with new medical examinations.