Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2016

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II, due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's current diagnosis is diabetes mellitus, Type II, which is an herbicide-presumptive disease.

The Veteran died from colon cancer, a nonservice-connected condition. The appellant argues that his death was caused by ischemic heart disease, which is service-connected. The Board needs to review the medical records and provide an opinion on whether the cause of death should be attributed to ischemic heart disease or colon cancer.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing at the Hartford RO. The issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, osteoporosis, and PTSD are still pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder, including atherosclerotic heart disease, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's ischemic heart disease and hypertension are related to his service, specifically due to herbicide exposure near the air base perimeter in Thailand. The claim for hypertension is remanded as additional development is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, type II as a result of herbicide exposure in Thailand. The claim for skin cancer on the head is denied due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and medical inquiry, including a VA examination to evaluate his hearing loss and heart condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including examinations and clarification of opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (including his lumbar spine disorder) precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 26, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease has been rated at 30 percent since June 1, 2011. The rating is based on the criteria for ischemic heart disease with a workload of greater than 5 METs but not greater than 7 METs.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the issues of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, and entitlement to service connection for a heart disability.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disorder, low back disorder, and ischemic heart disease were denied. The claim for service connection for PTSD was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not found to be related to service or presumptively presumed under VA regulations.

The Board found that the Veteran's coronary artery disease did not have its onset during service, was not caused by service, and was not caused or chronically worsened by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not combine to preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective June 10, 2014. The Board finds that a higher rating of 70 percent is warranted for his PTSD due to symptoms such as suicidal ideation and near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is less than the schedular percentage requirements for a TDIU, and his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for ischemic heart disease is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to January 11, 2012 is granted.,The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of coronary artery disease is granted and rated at 60 percent.,The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD with a depressive disorder is granted and rated at 50 percent.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and eye disorder manifested by loss of sight, and these claims are reopened.,New and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and eye disorder manifested by loss of sight, and these claims are reopened.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bradycardia is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left renal cyst is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's heart disorder claim due to incomplete records and a need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an updated medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam and for lung disability related to asbestos exposure during active service. The Veteran's claims are supported by his statements, medical opinions, and the evidence of record.