Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2016

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the evaluation for Ischemic Heart Disease.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease was productive of chronic congestive heart failure, dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness or syncope with a workload of 3 METs or less, or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of less than 30 percent from September 22, 2008 to October 7, 2008. A 100% rating was granted for this period.

The Board granted service connection for CAD associated with PTSD and assigned an effective date of December 10, 2004. The Veteran's claim was pending between May 3, 1989, and August 31, 2010, when the regulation adding ischemic heart disease as a presumptive disease due to in-service exposure to herbicides became effective.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to evaluate the current severity of his service-connected coronary artery disease and PTSD.

The Veteran's low back disability is found to be service-connected, and he meets the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and arteriosclerotic heart disease were denied as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other service connection criteria met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding that there was no current diagnosis and noting that the Veteran did not have a disability qualifying for the herbicide presumption. The elements for direct service connection were not shown.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a heart disability, claimed as hypertensive cardiovascular disease and/or ischemic heart disease, is being remanded due to potential herbicide exposure during his service aboard the USS Mullinnix in Vietnam.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is granted as due to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's timely notice of disagreement to the September 2011 rating decision denying service connection for ischemic heart disease was received within one year, and thus the appeal is allowed.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an addendum opinion regarding aggravation of heart disorder by service-connected sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease is currently rated at 30 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board found that his symptoms do not warrant an increased rating based on the severity of his heart condition alone.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease were not shown to be related to service, including exposure to herbicides. The claims are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for depression and TDIU are being remanded due to the failure to issue a supplemental statement of the case. The claim for service connection for coronary artery disease is also being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate VA medical opinions and incomplete records. The claims for service connection will be held in abeyance pending the adjudication of the inextricably intertwined claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain post-service treatment records and military retiree records.

The Board found that the Veteran was not exposed to herbicide agents during service and thus could not establish presumptive service connection for heart disease. The claim was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease with congestive heart failure are related to his military service, granting the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, which became 100% disabling on November 7, 2011, precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to that date. However, his other service-connected conditions did not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to their combined effect.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a heart disorder that he believes is related to his PTSD. The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has a current heart disorder and whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.