Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2017

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is presumed to have resulted from his in-service herbicide exposure, and the Board finds that he is entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his service-connected conditions and his death. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish herbicide exposure in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and adjudicating a TDIU issue.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service connection claim for ischemic heart disease as due to herbicide exposure is granted, based on his credible testimony regarding his duties and placement near the base perimeter during service.

The Veteran is granted service connection for coronary artery disease, presumed to have been incurred due to his exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam. The issue of an effective date prior to February 22, 2002 for the grant of service connection for Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran set foot in the Republic of Vietnam during his service, presuming herbicide exposure. The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to be due to this exposure. Additionally, the Veteran had a surgical scar secondary to coronary artery bypass graft for his IHD and this is also granted.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is found at least as likely as not etiologically related, in part, to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,Service connection for coronary artery disease was granted based on presumed exposure to herbicides. However, the effective date prior to June 7, 2010 remains unresolved.

The Veteran's varicose veins of the right leg are related to active military service and he is granted service connection for this condition. The heart disorder is not found to be directly related to service, but may be secondary to his service-connected varicose veins of the legs.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension, heart disorder, skin disorder, and cervical spine disorder are not related to his active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, alone, are sufficiently severe to produce unemployability without regard to advancing age. The Board finds that the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU due to his PTSD and CAD.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or due to housebound status has been denied as she is not in need of such assistance.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, separate evaluations, and increased rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) and ischemic heart disease (IHD) have been denied. The Board found that the earliest effective date available under VA regulations has already been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease was evaluated at a 10 percent rating prior to June 3, 2010. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension secondary to coronary artery disease was denied. His initial rating for coronary artery disease prior to January 2, 2014 and his initial ratings for parenchymatous liver disease with hepatic steatosis and undifferentiated somatoform disorder prior to August 12, 2015 were also denied. The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to October 26, 2007 was remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations and service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and peripheral vascular disease were denied. The VA examiner found the Veteran's symptoms most closely approximated a 30 percent evaluation for coronary artery disease.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the issue of service connection for hypertensive vascular disease, hypertension associated with coronary artery disease claimed as ischemic heart disease. As a result, the Board does not have jurisdiction to review this claim.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for ischemic heart disease was dismissed due to withdrawal. The Board granted the TDIU claim based on service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that none of the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death due to accidental ingestion of hydrocodone, and thus denies the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a heart condition due to lack of new and material evidence.