Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2016

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim of service connection for ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran died in February 1981 due to arteriosclerotic heart disease. The Appellant filed for service connection on October 29, 1991, and the effective date of DIC benefits was set at October 29, 1991. Ischemic heart disease was added as a covered herbicide disease effective August 31, 2010.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus due to in-service acoustic trauma and presumed exposure to Agent Orange. Service connection for ischemic heart disease is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his coronary artery disease was denied as the current severity of his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating. The claim for special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(s) was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities and whether they are related to service, including exposure to radiation in service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's heart disorder and cause of death claims, including consideration of new evidence and medical opinions.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease was not shown to be related to service until November 29, 2010. The effective date for the grant of service connection is therefore denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claims. The Veteran was also denied entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities and ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's combined disability evaluation was at least 70% prior to July 28, 2015. The evidence does not show he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus and Ischemic Heart Disease, both presumed due to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shin splints, left ankle disability, and hearing loss were denied. The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities, tinnitus, migraine headaches, and psychiatric disability are on appeal.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during service, and thus the presumption of Agent Orange exposure does not apply. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease were not shown in service or within one year post-service, and there is no medical opinion linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection and compensation for coronary artery disease, claimed as ischemic heart disease, secondary to exposure to herbicides was denied. The effective date of the award is set at August 13, 2010.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer are presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to herbicides, specifically Agent Orange.,Service connection for COPD (claimed as asbestosis) and respiratory/bronchus cancer is pending. The Veteran has not provided sufficient evidence of current diagnoses or a link between his claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for a more thorough opinion from a VA Vocational Rehabilitation Division counselor regarding his employment status and functional limitations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the claims for hypertension and a heart condition, which were previously remanded by the Board.

The Veteran's death from cardiovascular disease (diagnosed as ischemic heart disease) is presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicides during service in Thailand.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for hypertension and a heart disorder. The evidence is evenly balanced enough to allow application of the benefit-of-the-doubt rule as required by law and VA regulations, but it does not support granting service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an opinion on whether the Veteran's cause of death was related to his service and whether his coronary artery disease caused or contributed substantially to his death. The claim is also being remanded for a new rating decision on the initial rating for coronary artery disease.