Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected cardiovascular disease. Additionally, a new opinion regarding whether hypertension is aggravated by diabetes mellitus will be provided.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the relationship between his heart disabilities and PTSD.

The Board has determined that the reduction in rating for coronary artery disease from 30 percent to 10 percent was improper, and restored the original 30 percent rating. The Veteran's PTSD claim is also on appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is granted as it meets the criteria for presumptive service connection due to exposure during active duty in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since May 19, 2010. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure during service. The Veteran was stationed near the perimeter of Ubon RTAFB in Thailand where he likely served as a weapons mechanic exposed to herbicides.

The Veteran's cause of death is service connected due to ischemic heart disease, which is presumed to be caused by herbicide exposure during his service in Vietnam.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure in service, and thus could not presume service connection for any Agent Orange-related conditions. The Veteran's cause of death was listed as acute anteroapical myocardial infarction due to arteriosclerotic heart disease, which the Board determined was not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and a determination of whether his basal cell carcinoma is related to service, specifically herbicide exposure. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for COPD, heart disability, and bilateral shoulder disability. The decision was based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, carotid artery disease, and diabetes mellitus are granted as they may be presumed associated with exposure to herbicides.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service. Service connection was denied for a prostate disorder as there is no evidence of in-service diagnosis or treatment and the Veteran's condition did not have its onset until after separation from service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was timely. The Board found that the Veteran's CAD more nearly approximates a workload of 8.5 METs with dyspnea, fatigue, angina, and syncope, corresponding to a 10 percent rating prior to October 11, 2012. From October 11, 2012 to October 23, 2014, the Veteran's CAD more nearly approximates a workload of greater than 3 but less than 5 METs resulting in symptoms of dizziness, fatigue, and dyspnea, corresponding to a 60 percent rating. The Board found that from October 24, 2014, the Veteran's CAD more nearly approximates a workload of 7.8 METs with fatigue, corresponding to a 10 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and non-VA medical records, issuing a SOC on the issues of service connection for basal cell carcinoma, reopening claims for PTSD and arthritis of the right hand, and affording the Veteran an opportunity to respond.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation, including due to aid and attendance or housebound status, was denied as he did not meet the criteria for either benefit based on his service-connected conditions. The need for aid and attendance and/or housebound status were primarily due to nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular percentage requirements for TDIU, and the Board finds that he is unable to secure or maintain any substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at the highest possible rating under the applicable criteria, but his lumbar spine disorder does not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating.,His migraine headaches are currently rated as 30 percent disabling and do not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the nature of his cardiovascular disorder.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for headaches, COPD (claimed as emphysema and lungs), and bilateral knee disability. The new evidence received since the final decisions does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's service from August 1968 to August 1974 was under dishonorable conditions, and thus his second period of service is a bar to VA benefits related to this period. The criteria for entitlement to service connection for glaucoma, CAD, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension or bilateral hearing loss are not met.