Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease was received on April 25, 1996. The effective date of the award is set at this date as it is later than the date entitlement arose (CAD diagnosed in 1995).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease is not related to service and did not manifest within one year of separation, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during his time in Vietnam is presumed and his current diagnosis supports this presumption.

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in active service and is presumed to have been caused by exposure to loud noise during military service. The heart condition claim, presumptively related to herbicide exposure, has also been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining unit records and deck logs from the USS Tripoli to verify the Veteran's service in Vietnam. The appellant is seeking service connection for her husband's death due to colon cancer, diabetes mellitus, type II, and ischemic heart disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam and was not exposed to herbicide agents. The claims for heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, nephropathy associated with diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and bilateral upper extremities were denied as they are not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hypertensive heart disease associated with hypertension was denied by the RO, and he has appealed this decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's current atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease are not related to service, including his service-connected histoplasmosis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions and a need to address certain issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain his unit records and determine if he was exposed to herbicides during service. If exposure is confirmed, further development will be required.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral vascular disease in the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to service-connected residuals of a cold injury. The cause of death, due to intestinal ischemia, sepsis, and colon cancer, is not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the conditions did not have onset in active service or are otherwise unrelated to service.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether coronary artery disease, including ischemic heart disease, is related to the Veteran's service, specifically his exposure to herbicides and other chemicals during service in Thailand. As such, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and a total rating based on individual unemployability is being considered in a separate decision. The Veteran requested a video hearing, but it has not been scheduled yet.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, gout, and hypertension, are found to preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of current heart disability, and therefore service connection for ischemic heart disease and cardiomyopathy is denied.

The Veteran died from heart disease, which was not shown during service or within one year of separation. Service connection for the cause of death is denied as there is no evidence linking the Veteran's heart condition to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during his service in Vietnam, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected back disability, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, which he contends is related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, has been remanded due to the need for additional development of his service records and verification of his claimed duty assignments.