Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran served in Vietnam and is presumed to have been exposed to herbicides. Therefore, service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are granted as they are presumptively related to such exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further action on the issues of earlier effective dates for service connection and a higher initial rating for bilateral pes planus.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical records and an opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death, specifically whether his service-connected coronary artery disease contributed substantially or materially to it.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease contributed substantially or materially to his death, and thus service connection for the cause of his death is granted.

The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for consideration of a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) due to additional evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart condition and depression are not service-connected due to a pre-existing condition that was not aggravated during his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of sacroiliac joint strain, pharyngitis, gastritis, or heart disability related to service.,Service connection for bilateral ankle injuries is denied.

The Veteran's combined schedular evaluation of all service-connected disabilities has been 70 percent or more throughout the appeal period, and it is reasonably shown that by virtue of his service-connected disabilities, he is precluded from participating in any substantially gainful employment consistent with his education/training and experience.

The Board has granted reopening of the claims for service connection for heart disability and diabetes. The claim for service connection for heart disability remains denied, while the claim for service connection for diabetes is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) has been withdrawn, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and related medications did not cause or contribute to his death.

The Veteran's condition on April 28, 2014 was such that a prudent layperson would have reasonably expected that delay in seeking immediate medical attention would have been hazardous to life or health. The claim is granted as the criteria for payment or reimbursement under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1728 are met.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and VA treatment records from 1967 to the present. The Veteran's claims of service connection for convulsive disorder and coronary artery disease are inextricably intertwined.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cardiovascular disease, including ischemic heart disease, as a result of herbicide exposure during his active duty in Thailand. The evidence did not verify the Veteran's claimed exposure to Agent Orange and there was no in-country service in Vietnam. The Board found insufficient evidence to establish service connection based on presumptive or direct service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) was found to have manifested occasional chest pain/angina, requiring continuous medication, and producing metabolic equivalents (METs) between 12.9 and 13.4 with normal left ventricular ejection fraction and no congestive heart failure. The Board determined that an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for CAD was not warranted at any time during the period from September 10, 2004 to January [redacted], 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, effective July 15, 2009. The earlier date of claim was determined to be July 15, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) was granted, with a current effective date of July 1, 2008. The Veteran is also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was not exposed to herbicides during active duty service and therefore, his claims for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension are denied as they are not presumed due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of the claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence does not establish a current disability in these areas as defined by VA regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the diabetes claim and denying both conditions as not related to his service or herbicide exposure. The ischemic heart disease claim was also denied.