Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2016

The Veteran's CAD is currently rated at 100 percent, the highest possible rating under VA regulations. The claim for service connection of residuals of right elbow injury has been rendered moot due to the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the cause of the Veteran's death and whether it is related to service. This includes obtaining medical records from private providers and VA, as well as a medical opinion regarding the relationship between any current heart conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing impairment is related to his in-service noise exposure. The claim of service connection for prostate cancer and ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated medical records and a new VA examination for his service-connected coronary artery disease. The initial evaluation remains at 10 percent.

The Board dismissed the motion alleging clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in assigning an effective date of September 17, 1992, for a 60 percent disability rating for heart disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of coronary artery disease and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his current conditions are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertensive heart disease and granted service connection for right bundle branch block. The Veteran's hypertension is not considered a presumptive condition due to herbicide exposure, but the RBBB was found to be related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, PVD of the legs, right hand arthritis, and left hand arthritis are all found to be related to service.

The reduction in the rating from 60 percent to 10 percent for service-connected coronary artery disease was proper as evidence at the time of the reduction demonstrated improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Veteran's hepatitis is not service-connected as it did not have its clinical onset during service and there is no evidence of a nexus to service.,The Veteran's heart condition is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in service, nor any nexus to service.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in service and the current disability is not related to service.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in service, nor any nexus to service.,The Veteran's urinary condition is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in service and the current disability is not related to service.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and hypertension due to incomplete medical records, including those from Parkland Hospital in Dallas dated in 1975. A VA examination will be conducted by an examiner with appropriate expertise in cardiology to determine if the Veteran has had a heart disability at any time during this appeal since 2004 and whether it is as likely as not related to service. The examiner should also address whether hypertension was first manifested in service.

The Board has requested a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's ischemic heart disease and its relation to service. A new Fast Track decision granting service connection for chronic ischemic heart was found, but it is unclear if this relates to the current Veteran. The case is being remanded to determine if the Fast Track decision refers to the correct Veteran and whether service connection has been established.

The Veteran's service connection claim for ischemic heart disease is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The claim for asthma remains pending and requires additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess his employability given his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran has current ischemic heart disease, diagnosed as coronary artery disease, which is related to his exposure to herbicide agents in service. The Board finds that the evidence on this point is in at least equipoise and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to substantiate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining STRs and corroborating his account of events during active duty.

The Veteran's fatal disabilities, including pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), coronary artery disease (CAD), and diabetes mellitus, were not related to service. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding of any causal relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and ischemic heart disease are presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination regarding heart disability and hypertension, as well as incomplete verification of herbicide exposure in Subic Bay. The Veteran's service treatment records show shortness of breath during service, which may be related to his current heart disability.