Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2016

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of ischemic heart disease and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying helicopter landings in Vietnam.

The Veteran is not entitled to an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation based on housebound status as he did not meet the criteria for housebound status until July 20, 2005.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU prior to April 5, 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and atrial fibrillation as secondary to PTSD, finding new and material evidence of a heart disability. The Veteran's request for the records from Dr. Dan Crawford was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a lack of evidence to decide the Veteran's claims and some indication that his conditions may be associated with his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of ischemic heart disease was granted, with the effective date set at August 30, 2010. This decision is based on VA's review of his claims file to determine if he was entitled to disability benefits due to exposure to herbicide agents during his military service.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease requires continuous medication but does not result in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness or syncope with a workload of 7 METs or less. The Board found that the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent were not met.

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, hearing loss, residuals of a deviated nasal septum (withdrawn), left ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hip disorder, heart disorder, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and obstructive sleep apnea. The Board is also remanding the claim for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to September 5, 2013 were rated at a combined 90 percent. Considering the totality of his service-connected conditions and their impact on his ability to work, these disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, including ischemic heart disease. The Veteran's current heart disorders were not diagnosed during his active military service and are not related to his service.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to have been incurred during active duty. The Board finds that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in Vietnam and grants service connection for ischemic heart disease as a result of such exposure.

The Veteran's cardiac disability, specifically coronary artery disease following a coronary bypass graft, has resulted in occasional dyspnea and fatigue at a workload of greater than 5 METs but not greater than 7 METs. The ejection fraction is greater than 50 percent, without any evidence of congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, or other significant complications.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for hypothyroidism, hypertension, heart disease, and hepatitis C due to new and material evidence. However, no specific rating or effective date is assigned as these issues are still under review.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during service is presumed. The claims for skin cancer, peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease with coronary artery disease was granted a 60 percent rating from February 16, 2010 to February 2, 2013.

The Board has determined that an effective date prior to October 7, 2013, for the Veteran's TDIU is not warranted due to his withdrawal of the claim and the finality of the June 2012 RO decision denying a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for bilateral pes planus, PTSD, and coronary artery disease have been granted. An effective date of November 24, 2008 has also been established.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for the service-connected right knee disability, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease are also found to be related to his service-connected conditions.

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