Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2016

The Veteran's death was due to ischemic heart disease complicated by diabetes mellitus type II. The appellant submitted a claim for accrued benefits, but the Board found that there were no claims pending at the time of the Veteran's death and thus no accrued benefits were due.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease was denied, and his hearing loss claim was also denied as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The Board found that the Veteran's hearing impairment corresponded to level I or II in both ears, resulting in noncompensable evaluations.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides and that the disorders are not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease/ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy, skin disorder, hypertension, sleep apnea, and leg stents are denied as there is no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides during his service in Guam. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for DM and ischemic heart disease, including CAD, due to herbicide exposure in Thailand. The Board finds that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service at U-Tapao RTAFB and thus is presumed to have been exposed. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute substantially to his death. The July 2016 VHA opinion concluded that the Veteran's cardiovascular problems were not related to his military service and that his chronic anxiety disorder was less likely than not a contributory cause of his death.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant and his representative have withdrawn their appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure and maintain employment prior to March 22, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone has prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since February 26, 2010. Additionally, the combination of his service-connected disabilities (including PTSD) has resulted in a combined schedular rating of 70 percent effective February 26, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicides during his service and finds that he meets the criteria for presumptive service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus Type II.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease was denied as he did not file a claim prior to April 29, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity that they preclude substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. The issue is now pending as to whether service connection should be granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and a heart disorder (to include a heart attack), finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causative factors.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, finding that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam or along the DMZ in Korea during the period from April 1968 through August 1971. Therefore, exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange is not presumed; nor is there probative evidence of exposure to herbicide agents at any time during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, including a TDIU claim.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is not related to his military service or any incident therein. The Board finds that the criteria for entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, have not been met.,Regarding ischemic heart disease, the claim has yet to be developed and/or adjudicated on a secondary causation basis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and ischemic heart disease is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his claimed stressors and the evaluation of his psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease was granted a 30 percent evaluation effective October 19, 2012. The appeal for higher evaluations is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, including ischemic cardiomyopathy, on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in Vietnam.