Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records related to the Veteran's claims of service connection for coronary artery disease and prostate cancer due to exposure to contaminated groundwater and chemical exposure.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease) and a higher rating prior to December 13, 2011. The Board finds that a 100% rating is warranted from the effective date of service connection.,The Veteran's symptoms have been severe since at least the effective date of service connection in December 6, 2006.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits were granted effective November 5, 2008. The initial disability rating for diabetic nephropathy was increased to 60 percent in February 2007.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn, and the claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities, heart disability, and shoulder disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions were incurred during active service or within one year following separation.,There was no indication any of the listed diagnoses (cervical spine, upper extremities, heart, and shoulders) were etiologically related to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, chloracne of the back, and skin cancers of the ears due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The effective date is set at the day following the Veteran's separation from active duty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition and benign trigeminal schwannoma, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions as being related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected Meniere's disease.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination with a cardiologist to evaluate the severity of his service-connected ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and ischemic heart disease were not found to be service-connected. The Board denied the claims for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, respiratory disorder (COPD), hypertension, heart disorder, bilateral hearing loss, right eye disability, right leg disability, and bilateral foot disability. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of these conditions and/or insufficient evidence to establish a link between them and service.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there is no evidence to causally link the Veteran's cause of death (or any contributing cause) to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's current heart disabilities (LVH, atrium dilation, and CAD) are not related to his service or a service-connected condition. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a heart disability is denied.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease, associated with herbicide exposure, has continued to manifest with normal exercise capacity for his age and the requirement for continuous medication. The Board finds that a higher initial rating than 10 percent is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the August 2017 TDIU Vocational Assessment Report and the need for a new VA examination to address his service-connected disabilities' impact on employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's current coronary artery disease is less likely as not caused by or the rheumatic fever he was treated for during service, and denied his claim of entitlement to service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA decision and medical records, scheduling VA examinations, and obtaining all VA treatment records.

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

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional examination and updated medical records, as well as potential changes in the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's daughter is seeking an earlier effective date for the award of retroactive accrued benefits for ischemic heart disease, which was granted with an effective date of September 17, 2003. The case has been remanded due to a lack of certain procedural and medical evidence in the electronic claims file.