Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2016

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee pain and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's other claims for joint pain, brain tumor, shoulder condition, and heart condition are not addressed as they are combined with the reopening of the knee pain claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and review of medical records, particularly regarding the Veteran's history of coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the lack of VA treatment records for his coronary artery disease from January 1, 2014. The case will be reviewed again after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is related to his active service, including high cholesterol he was diagnosed with during service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral hearing disability, finding new and material evidence. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (including PTSD, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral hearing loss) are found to be disabling enough to prevent him from securing or following any form of gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, arterial sclerotic cardiovascular occlusive disease with partial arterial obstruction, cardiovascular disease, status post coronary artery bypass grafting, chronic renal insufficiency, and hypertension based on substitution.,Service connection is also granted for erectile dysfunction and bilateral peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the now service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's dysthymia is not service-connected, and the Board finds that it was not caused by VA care or treatment.,The Veteran's heart condition is not service-connected, and the Board finds that it was not caused by VA care or treatment.,The Veteran's thyroid disease is not service-connected, and the Board finds that it was not caused by VA care or treatment.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not service-connected, and the Board finds that it was not caused by VA care or treatment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skin disorder (due to exposure to Agent Orange), acute myositis of the quadriceps, peripheral neuropathy, heart disorder, hemorrhage of blood vessels in the brain, cerebral vascular accident/TIA, and bilateral eye disorder have been denied. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding his sleep apnea, COPD, heart disability, and earlier effective date for service connection for lung cancer.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease have been dismissed. The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as osteoarthritis of the bilateral hips.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current level of disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection for an upper and lower back condition was also denied, with no evidence showing such conditions during service or at present. The eye condition claim was granted on a secondary basis to diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and the VA is remanded to provide a medical opinion on whether his contributory conditions (coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus) contributed substantially or materially to his death. The burial benefits claim will also be reconsidered as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection issue.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for coronary artery disease effective July 26, 2011. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records related to his August 2015 carotid endarterectomy and a VA examination to assess the severity of his coronary artery disease.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of type II diabetes mellitus and denied her claim for service connection. The issue of ischemic heart disease with coronary artery disease was also addressed, but as part of the remand process.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and CAD have been granted, with a rating of 50 percent for PTSD and 60 percent for CAD. The TDIU claim has also been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sleep apnea, heart disorder, flat feet, back disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, left hip disorder, and right hip disorder are not attributable to service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a heart disorder, thus denying the reopening of this claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to evaluate the current severity of his service-connected ischemic heart disease status post coronary artery bypass graft, and for consideration of TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and private heart surgery records. The right knee rating claim will be addressed with a new VA examination, while the heart disorder and stroke claims will require a VA examination to determine their etiology.