Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2015

The Veteran seeks service connection for a heart disorder as secondary to his inactive rheumatic fever, and also seeks a compensable rating for the inactive rheumatic fever. The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate these claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, and Parkinson's disease are granted as presumptively due to herbicide exposure in the Republic of Vietnam. Service connection is also granted for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of DIC benefits should be August 31, 2010, based on VA's review of the Veteran's claims file within one year of the liberalizing law which resulted in the award of DIC.

The Veteran's combined disability rating does not meet the threshold for consideration of a schedular TDIU, as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for heart problems and granted his claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence supports a finding that the Veteran's heart problems likely first manifested during his military service.

The Veteran's initial rating for service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) is being remanded due to the need for a new adequate examination of his CAD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability, and awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and provide the Veteran with a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney cancer and related conditions are presumed to be due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Board also finds it is at least as likely as not that these conditions have caused or contributed to his other diagnosed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims due to unclear reasoning and failure to consider a June 2004 decision granting another veteran entitlement to disability benefits for diabetes mellitus resulting from herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, thus the criteria for a TDIU rating have not been met.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through her representative, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records, including VA Vocational Rehabilitation folder/records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, which he contends is due to herbicide exposure in the DMZ, has been remanded due to a lack of direct evidence. The Board finds that a VA examination and opinion are necessary to determine if there is at least as likely as not (50% probability or greater) that his condition was caused or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated private treatment records and arranging for medical examinations.

The Veteran seeks service connection for defective vision and a heart disorder, both claimed as due to exposure at Camp LeJeune. The claims are reopened but the Board cannot establish service connection based on the evidence provided.,Service connection is not established for a heart disorder or defective vision (refractive error) due to exposure at Camp LeJeune.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart disability, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and COPD. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death, and thus the claim for DIC is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease and ischemic heart disease were denied as there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after separation, and the current conditions are not related to any incident during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if he was exposed to commercial herbicides that contained dioxin and other contaminants, which could potentially trigger service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with anxiety is currently rated at 50 percent. The effective date for this rating has been set as November 30, 2007.