Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2016

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and ischemic heart disease, as well as other conditions. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including clarification of the PTSD disability rating and a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected conditions on his ability to work.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a heart disorder is being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding which RO he prefers for his Board hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a review of the April 2016 VA examination and any new evidence added to the record since January 2016. The issue of TDIU due to service-connected coronary artery disease will also be adjudicated.

The Veteran's effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease is fixed at October 3, 2007.,The Veteran's effective date for service connection of diabetes mellitus is fixed at July 16, 2010. The appellant argues that the earlier dates should apply due to VA treatment records and medications received from the VA pharmacy. However, there is no evidence of an informal claim prior to these dates.,The Veteran's initial rating for diabetes mellitus remains at 20 percent as his condition does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities (diabetic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus with hypertension and erectile dysfunction, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, coronary artery disease) is now 100 percent. The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such nature and severity as to prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining substantial gainful employment since April 21, 2010. The Board finds that the criteria for TDIU have been met.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for PTSD, but not for other conditions such as heart disability, gastritis, or wrist disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart condition was not incurred or aggravated by service, as it pre-existed service and did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA heart examination to determine whether the Veteran currently suffers from ischemic heart disease and if any diagnosed heart condition is related to service or his conceded herbicide exposure in service. The appeal will be considered on a mixed basis as some issues may be granted while others are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination regarding the severity of his coronary artery disease under both old and new rating criteria from September 18, 1990.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease are presumed to have been incurred in service, and they contributed substantially or materially to his death from acute respiratory failure of pneumonitis. The Board grants the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran seeks service connection for erectile dysfunction, to include as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease. The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an additional VA examination concerning the etiology of the Veteran's erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination to assess his current heart condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a chronic heart disorder/ischemic heart disease, his right and left foot hallux valgus do not meet criteria for separate ratings, his back disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to October 21, 2013, or from July 27, 2014, and his duodenal ulcer did not meet criteria for increased ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and heart disability were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The preexisting hypertension noted at service entrance did not increase in severity during active duty.

The Board's February 2014 decision denying service connection for a right arm/shoulder disorder is dismissed as the Veteran did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement.

The Veteran's service-connected Ischemic Heart Disease and Tinnitus do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's heart disorder, including coronary artery disease (CAD), is presumed to have been caused by his herbicide exposure in service.