Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's ischemic heart disease and COPD are not related to herbicide exposure or service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed heart, gastrointestinal, and neurological disabilities are not related to his active service or any service-connected disability. As such, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining inpatient clinical records from the U.S. Naval Hospital Roosevelt Roads and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current conditions are related to his service.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities prior to October 5, 2009, was 40 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not show he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability with chest pain and hypertension, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim. The Veteran's cardiovascular disabilities were not related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for the residuals of food poisoning and a low back disability. The claims for heart disorder, hypertension, neck gunshot wound residuals, and head trauma residuals are also denied.

The Board has decided to grant the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, including residuals of myocardial infarction, as it is determined that this condition is related to his service-connected left lower extremity cellulitis or its treatment.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 4, 2012 for the award of special monthly compensation at the housebound level is denied. The effective date is set as September 4, 2012 based on the increase in his rating for polycystic kidney disease with stage IV renal failure.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of PTSD and IHD have been denied as there is no evidence showing the conditions were present prior to the assigned effective dates. The Veteran's TDIU claim has also been denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, which was secondary to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, post coronary artery bypass graft, is rated at a 60 percent disability rating since September 1, 2011. The evidence shows that the Veteran has an estimated workload of greater than 5 METs but not greater than 7 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope; evidence of cardiac hypertrophy on echocardiogram; and left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 50% to 55%. The Board finds that these findings warrant a higher 60 percent rating.

The Veteran's initial rating for ischemic heart disease was granted at 10 percent from August 31, 2010 to March 31, 2013. After that period, the rating was increased to 30 percent effective April 1, 2013.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus, COPD, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and left eye disability.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened and granted. His IHD is presumed to be related to his service due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease with hypertensive renal disease, status post myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure is rated at 100% disabling. His hypertension is currently evaluated as 10% disabling.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a supplemental medical opinion from a VA examiner. The issue of entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) for the loss of use of a creative organ will be deferred until further development of the inextricably intertwined issue is completed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a heart disorder and hypertension, as well as his PTSD claim for an increased rating were denied. The Board found no evidence of ischemic heart disease or hypertension in service or within one year after separation from service. The Veteran was not diagnosed with ischemic heart disease during the appeal period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for anemia (hairy cell leukemia) and dyslipidemia (ischemic heart disease), finding no evidence of a current disability related to service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities have all been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.