Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and incomplete medical records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, secondary to exposure to herbicide agents, is now pending with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and ischemic heart disease have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, claimed as a heart murmur/irregular heartbeat, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and an examination.

The Veteran's right Achilles tendonitis is proximately related to medication taken for service-connected prostate cancer and CAD, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disorder and bilateral knee chondromalacia, finding that the Veteran experienced 'continuous' symptoms since service separation. The heart disorder is presumed to have been incurred in service due to a heart murmur noted at service separation. Bilateral knee chondromalacia is also presumed as it has been diagnosed and there are continuous post-service symptoms.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the increase disability rating for coronary artery disease, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted for tinnitus, prostate cancer, skin cancer, respiratory impairment (emphysema), heart disability (coronary artery disease), hypertension, or systemic arthritis.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease, tinnitus, and bilateral high frequency hearing loss do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease, as well as his requests for a rating in excess of 60 percent for residuals of prostate cancer and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings for coronary artery bypass graft and diabetes mellitus type II, indicating satisfaction with the current rating decisions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, heart disorder, kidney/renal disorder, and Parkinson's disease. The effective dates are not specified as the claims were granted in full.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran did not have in-country service in Vietnam or exposure to herbicides. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection on a direct basis either.

The Board has determined that the August 2015 VA examination is not adequate for decision making purposes and requires further development to determine if the Veteran's heart disability is related to his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, and coronary artery disease. The VA examiners concluded that these conditions were not related to his service-connected disabilities or incurred in service.

The Veteran's hypertension had its onset during service and is currently rated at 50 percent disabling. The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to February 10, 2012, but not from that date onward. Prior to February 10, 2012, the Veteran's other service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records, specifically a March 10, 2010, record and records dated from December 2009 to December 2013.

The Board found no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and ischemic heart disease based on such exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease and diabetes render him unable to maintain or obtain substantially gainful employment, which has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is service connected, but his heart condition, hypertension, and OSA are not service connected as they did not develop during active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected coronary artery disease.