Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2015

The Veteran's coronary arteriosclerotic heart disease is currently rated at 30 percent, which reflects the presence of left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 60 to 65 percent. The current level of severity does not warrant a higher rating as it does not meet the criteria for more than one episode of acute congestive heart failure in the past year; a workload of greater than 3 METs but not greater than 5 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope; or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 30 percent to 50 percent.

The Veteran's single permanent disability (coronary artery disease/ischemic heart disease) is rated at 100%, but he also has additional disabilities independently ratable at 60% (hypertension). Therefore, the Veteran does not qualify for housebound-rate SMP as his additional disabilities do not meet the required percentage rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of the claim on its merits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and right ear hearing loss were denied. The Veteran was granted a 10% disability rating for tinnitus, but the Board found that this did not warrant an increased evaluation. His claims for ischemic heart disease, anxiety disorder, bilateral tinea pedis, and left ear hearing loss are pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for pilonidal cyst, hypertensive heart disease, headaches, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, fibromyalgia, and liver disability. The reasons given were lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for his lumbosacral DDD, but not for the radiculopathy of his lower extremities prior to November 6, 2012.

The Veteran was granted TDIU as of November 1, 2009, due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have ischemic heart disease and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have herbicide exposure in Vietnam or any other country, and therefore cannot establish service connection for his claimed conditions based on herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition and sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions being related to his military service. The cause of death was determined to be end stage heart disease, which also had no direct link to service.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain private treatment records from Dr. Sears, and the Veteran is required to provide a release for VA to access these records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of death and the role of the Veteran's ischemic heart disease in his death. The claim will be reconsidered based on the additional development.

The Veteran's claim for an initial increased rating in excess of 60 percent for ischemic heart disease has been denied as the evidence does not show that his disability meets or approximates the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease and asthma are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling appropriate examinations.

The Veteran's death was due to ischemic heart disease, which is presumed to be caused by herbicide exposure in service. As the evidence is in equipoise as to whether he set foot in Vietnam during his service, and given that he served in the Republic of Vietnam between January 1962 and May 1975, service connection for the cause of death due to herbicide exposure is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his VA and private treatment records, as well as obtaining a VA examination by a cardiologist to determine the nature and etiology of any heart disease and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an updated VA examination.

The Board denied the Appellant's request for an effective date prior to May 16, 2011 for DIC benefits based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. The RO initially granted DIC benefits from July 10, 2012 but later changed it to May 16, 2011. The Board found that no earlier effective date was warranted as there was no informal or formal claim prior to May 16, 2011.