Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining complete service records and VA treatment records. The case will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Veteran's CAD was granted a 30 percent disability rating effective March 4, 2010. The current evidence does not meet the criteria for an increased evaluation.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is due to likely exposure to herbicides while visiting the Republic of Vietnam and a duty assignment along the perimeter of the base at Takhli, Thailand. Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, as secondary to herbicide exposure, has been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability is related to his combat experiences during service. Service connection was also granted for a heart disability due to herbicide exposure (Gulf War Syndrome).

The Board denied the claim for an effective date prior to August 31, 2010, for the grant of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 31, 2010, for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease was denied as no earlier effective date is permitted by law.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea has been withdrawn prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a non-VA facility from February 13, 2012 to February 15, 2012 are granted as the treatment was deemed emergency and all other criteria for payment were met.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in total occupational impairment, but does not cause total social impairment. The Veteran's coronary artery disease has been manifested by a left ventricular ejection fraction of greater than 60 percent and there has been no showing of more than one episode of acute congestive heart failure in any year.

The Veteran's service-connected arteriosclerotic heart disease was rated at 30 percent from December 21, 2010. The appeal for a higher initial rating and earlier effective date for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bipolar disorder, coronary artery disease, hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further development. The issues include rating his anxiety and depressive disorder, increased hearing loss disability, left ear hearing loss, cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, ischemic heart disease, and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's permanent and total disability rating was granted after the appellant reached her 26th birthday, making her ineligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under Chapter 35, Title 38 of the United States Code.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and TDIU are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and determine if there is a basis for reopening his original claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous directives and needs further examination to determine if the Veteran has any current disabilities manifested by chest pain or heart disorder, and whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development and consideration of his claims, including a supplemental statement of the case on his service connection claims.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for schizophrenia and denied service connection for a heart disorder. The Veteran's schizophrenia was not found to be related to service, and there is no current diagnosis of a heart disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; heart disease with ICD; and hypertension. The decision found no evidence of exposure to herbicides or other chemical agents during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to service or a service-connected disability. The Board also denied increased ratings for hypertensive heart disease and spondylolisthesis with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.,The remaining issues regarding left leg radiculopathy, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depressive disorder), and TDIU are not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease is secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder and alcohol abuse, and thus grants the claim for service connection.