Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected valvular heart disease does not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status due to his other significant nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to establish the Veteran's service connection claims, including verifying his deployment and exposure to potential hazards during service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for PTSD and CAD have been granted, with the effective date set at December 16, 2003.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for large vessel disease, claimed as coronary artery disease, has been reopened. The RO granted a 50 percent evaluation for PTSD from November 22, 2010 and denied all other claims.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for coronary artery disease and posttraumatic stress disorder were denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The Veteran was not granted an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his CAD prior to June 22, 2010, as his maximum workload did not exceed 13.4 METs with no evidence of cardiac hypertrophy or dilation. For PTSD, the Veteran's initial evaluations were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus type II was received by VA on September 22, 2009. The effective date of service connection is set at September 22, 2008.,The Veteran's claim for coronary artery disease was received by VA on September 22, 2009. The earliest evidence of a diagnosis and entitlement to service connection arose in 2007, but the effective date cannot be earlier than September 22, 2009.

The Veteran's heart condition (claimed as sinus arrhythmia) is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, ischemic heart disease, and PTSD. The Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and providing an opinion regarding the Veteran's employability given his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, with a 30 percent disability rating for coronary artery disease since August 23, 2011 and service connection established for shin splints.

The Veteran does not have diabetes mellitus or heart disease that is attributable to his active military service. His diagnoses are not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service at U-Tapao Airbase in Thailand, and to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his heart disability.

The Board dismissed the motion for revision of a decision denying service connection for heart disability and hypertension due to herbicide exposure because there was no final decision to review on CUE grounds.

The Veteran's CAD manifests with dyspnea, fatigue, angina, and dizziness under a workload of between 5 and 7 METs, and has for the entire period under consideration. The Board finds that a 30 percent rating is warranted for the entire period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are currently rated at a combined evaluation of 90 percent, and the case is being remanded for further development to determine if they preclude his participation in all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Board hearing via videoconference. The issues of service connection, increased rating for PTSD, and special monthly compensation are still pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction. The issues of whether a higher rating is warranted for coronary artery disease are addressed in remand.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and he did not meet the requirements for VA benefits due to his non-service-connected conditions or lack of qualifying service.

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration due to issues regarding the Veteran's employability based on his service-connected disabilities. The appeal is now with the AOJ.